In what’s sure to be USAa college student’s dream come true, drones will soon be delivering burritos on the campus of Virginia Tech.
The experimental service, to begin this month and last just a few weeks, is a test by Project Wing, a unit of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and the Blacksburg, Virginia, university have agreed to participate.
The Federal Aviation Administration approved the venture, the most extensive test yet in the U.S. of what many companies -- including Amazon.com Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. -- hope will eventually become routine drone deliveries of products.
Amazon has begun a round of trials at a location in the U.K.
"It’s the first time that we’re actually out there delivering stuff to people who want that stuff,” said Dave Vos, who heads Project Wing.
Project Wing will use self-guided hybrids that can fly like a plane or hover like a helicopter. They will make deliveries from a Chipotle food truck to assess the accuracy of navigation systems and how people respond.
The devices will hover overhead and lower the Chipotle edibles with a winch.
Part of the experiment will be to see how well the packaging protects the chow and keeps it warm. Food was selected as the demonstration cargo because it’s a challenge. The company is already at work on a more sophisticated second version of the aircraft that won’t be used in the tests, Vos said.
Before widespread deliveries can occur, companies will have to convince the FAA that drones can avoid each other and safely navigate to drop spots using robotic technology. The agency on Aug. 29 instituted broad new regulations for commercial drones.
SEE ALSO: Alphabet's Project Wing delivery drones to be tested in USWhile companies hope the rules will clear the way for drone deliveries, they didn’t permit such flights initially.
The burrito-bearing aircraft will be flown by automation, but human pilots will be standing by to take control if necessary to comply with FAA rules, he said. Because regulations also don’t allow drones to fly over people, participants will be shielded, according to the company.
Vos said the experiment will not assess one of the major technology hurdles facing drone deliveries: creation of a low-level air-traffic system that can maintain order as the skies become more crowded with unmanned vehicles. NASA is working with Project Wing and other companies to develop the framework for such a system.
Data from the tests will be provided to the FAA to help the agency develop new rules allowing deliveries, Vos said.
Alphabet sees the technology as potentially creating sweeping changes to society and the economy, it said in a statement. It would not only reduce carbon emissions, but may change the way consumers shop, the company said.
The project is part of Virginia Tech’s efforts to become a leader in new transportation technology, school President Timothy Sands said in an interview.
SEE ALSO: Breaking down the best credit cards for travelers“It sounds simple, but it’s not,” Sands said. “There are a lot of things to work out from a safety point of view and a policy point of view.”
The university is part of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, one of six groups chosen as unmanned test beds by the FAA.
The volunteers ordering drone-delivery food will be made up of a mix of Virginia Tech employees, students and possibly other recruits, Mark Blanks, director of the partnership, said.
“This is the most complex delivery flight operation that I am aware of that’s occurred on U.S. soil,” Blanks said.
Topics Google
Puerto Rico hurricane crisis: Here's why this could be Trump's Katrina
One of the world's longest electric car highways will be built in Australia
Who's right about AI: Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk?
How a troll McDonald's account fooled everybody, even McDonald's itself
Best smartwatch deal: Get an Apple Watch Series 9 for 34% off
Amazon Prime Now launched in Singapore, then quickly couldn't cope with demand
Here's what the inside of Tesla's Model 3 looks like
How to share GIFs to Instagram in iPhone and Android
Harrison Ford isn't a fan of the Trump administration's climate agenda
New Google Doodle recognizes 100th anniversary of the Silent Parade
LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids 2025 livestream: Watch Concacaf Champions Cup for free
'Titanic' cast reunite 20 years later, everyone makes the same joke
This 1 image sums up just how circular last night's 'Game of Thrones' episode was
A tale of two tacos: Does Chipotle's comeback plan involve becoming more like Taco Bell?
This new app is like Shazam for frogs
'Game of Thrones' actor casually reveals 1 character who won't be returning
Music festival shutdown after it turned into a mud
Mark Hamill sends the best DM to fan who asked him to verify old Star Wars autograph
Trump is feeling really, really under
'Game of Thrones': What the creepy Bran/Sansa reunion means
What's with this random goat on a roof?YouTube cofounder protests decision to remove 'dislikes'Cardi B probably knows a lot more about President Franklin D. Roosevelt than you doTrump made the Mooch get shot in the butt because he's a germaphobeWatch in horror as Donald Trump's hair attempts another daring escapeViral TikTok uses data to show the workload of parental leaveBlake Lively is trolling Ryan Reynolds once again on InstagramHow to file a claim for a piece of TikTok's $92 million class action lawsuitHow to remove yourself from a Twitter listHow to file a claim for a piece of TikTok's $92 million class action lawsuit'Insecure' show runner Prentice Penny on the HBO comedy's final season and journeyA BBC presenter fell in a swimming pool on live TV and took it like a champWatch in horror as Donald Trump's hair attempts another daring escape‘Red Notice’ plays like ‘Blue’s Clues’ for grownWhich iPhones are waterproof?Iceland makes fun of Facebook's metaverse with the 'Icelandverse'Facebook blocks fake Black Lives Matter page, bigger than the real oneHow to remove yourself from a Twitter listHow to set up parental controls on an iPhoneWhat's with this random goat on a roof? Best power station deal: Get the Jackery Explorer for 44% off at Amazon Sabalenka vs. Svitolina 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free Best gaming laptop deal: Save 18% on ASUS ROG Strix Congress passes ‘Take It Down’ Act to fight deepfakes Limited edition Star Wars deal: Get the Star Wars TIE Fighter Stand for your Echo Dot Best Apple deal: Score the M3 for under $800 and the M4 for under $850 Hisense 75 California takes big step toward becoming an AI Makeup influencer Samantha Harvey's tips on becoming a full Best Max deals and bundles: Best streaming deals in May 2025 A Hubble scientist was urged not to take a risky cosmic image. He didn't listen. The internet can’t stop arguing over 100 men fighting 1 gorilla Creator job opportunities grew 7x in recent years [April 2025] Best Mother's Day gift: The Kodak Mini 2 Retro photo printer is under $75 Trump's new automotive tariff exemption benefits Tesla CES Alienware Area 51 desktop deal: $500 off Report: Amazon to add tariff surcharge, White House responds Best foot massager deal: Save $80 on the RENPHO Shiatsu Foot Massager Waymo partners with Toyota to bring robotaxis to everyone Best AMD Ryzen CPU deals: Save up to 57% on high