Evolution of Commercial Drone Operations

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A detailed exploration of the journey from aircraft design to drone technology for delivering essential items and household goods, discussing challenges faced in early UAS operations. The chapter highlights the transition of a Google X project to a separate entity under the Alphabet umbrella, navigating technological readiness, regulatory landscapes, and market demand. It delves into design intricacies, payload optimization, community feedback on noise, and the contrast between futuristic ideals and practical implementations in the drone delivery and autonomous vehicle industries.

Incubated inside Google's X project and now deploying in the real world, Wing is an aerial drone delivery company with some interesting parallels to another of Alphabet's "other bets" the gang regularly discuses: Waymo. But, as CEO Adam Woodworth explains, Wing also provides a very different look at how one engineers automated mobility services at a system level, focused more on creating "lego pieces" than specific vehicles. He joins the show to explain Wing's strategy, the unique challenges it faces, and lessons learned along the way.