Spotlight on the Unmanned Systems Stage at InterGEO 2024 InterGEO 2024, taking place from September 24-26 in Stuttgart, Germany, is the premier event for geospatial innovation, offering a diverse platform for professionals in geoinformation, geodesy, and land management. A key highlight of the event is the Unmanned Systems Stage, where the future of drone technology […]
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For over a decade, I’ve been chronicling the drone industry’s evolution. But believe it or not, I only just experienced my first (real) drone delivery.
I headed to Texas, which is quickly become the land of drone delivery. So much so, that industry experts are calling it the Drone Star State. There, multiple drone delivery companies including Wing, Flytrex, Amazon, Manna, Zipline and DroneUp are all vying for a slice of the drone delivery pie. Some are in early testing phases, while others, like Wing, are fully operational with real customers.
And that’s exactly what I set out to experience — a real, drone delivery. Come with me to experience my first ever, real drone delivery. And if you want the video version of this experience, check it out on my YouTube channel!
Now, I’ve definitely knocked drone deliveries in the past for being mere publicity stunts. And yes, that including Wing itself (way back in 2016). At the time, I criticized them for massively overhyping a curated test project sending Chipotle burritos over merely a single field to students at Virginia Tech. I equated it to a science fair project.
I’ve also personally participated in some test drone deliveries previously. For example, I emceed an event in 2015 on the football field of Harvard for their Making Robotics Fly event, held in tandem with Harvard Business School. There, I helped Matternet put on a demonstration of a t-shirt delivery to the stadium.
But since then, drone delivery has evolved from one-off stunt to serious operations. For example, just six months after crossing the milestone of making 100,000 delivery drone flights, Wing in March 2022 clocked in a new milestone of 200,000 commercial drone deliveries made in its company history. Zipline, which is considered the largest drone delivery company in the world, marked its milestone one million drone deliveries in April 2024.
It was clear: drones were delivering for real customers, and I wanted to be one of them.
I reached out to the folks at Wing to see if they could help make my drone delivery dreams come true.
Wing runs drone delivery operations in a few spots around the world, including Logan and Melbourne, Australia. Then, there are the deliveries with Walmart occurring at a handful of stores in Dallas Fort-Worth, Texas. Since Australia was a bit out of reach, I set my sights on Texas.
Wing delivers to eligible home addresses within a specific radius of participating Walmart stores that have a safe package release zone (e.g. no full forests of towering trees!). Since I wasn’t a Texas homeowner, Wing found me a suitable grassy patch near a Fort Worth Walmart. After all, I also wanted a tour of their “Nest” – the designated area where drones are loaded, take off, and land.
So with that, I made my way to Walmart, first for a Nest tour and then for my actual first drone delivery.
The Wing Nest is an airport of sorts, but it’s hardly that. It’s really just an area blocked off via a chain-link fence. That space takes up a small chunk of the Walmart parking lot.
At other retailers, like the Logan Mall in Australia, the “Nest” sits on the mall’s rooftop. They could also theoretically sit in any other outdoor space, like a privately-owned parcel adjacent to a store. Nests can vary in size, ranging from a few parking spaces to many more. It’s all dependent on how many drone landing pads are needed, based on demand (and the retailer’s preferences).
At the Fort Worth Nest, two rows of drones are laid out on pads, ready to take off when an ordered is made. On the far side sits a single shipping container, which stores backup drones and other supplies. A power generator keeps everything charged.
At this site, the whole operation is executed through a combination of Walmart employees and Wing employees. Walmart employees physically walk to store shelves and get them packed up, bringing them out to a parking lot. But Wing also has an employee onsite who handles the drones.
Separately, Wing staffs employees who work across a handful of Nests in the region to deal with things like maintenance. Then, Wing also operates a Remote Operations Center in the Dallas area. This is sort of like its air traffic control tower. Though operations are fully automated, Wing still employs staff here to serve as a second set of eyes (looking through a computer). They consider factors like winds, weather or traffic. Many of these employees have backgrounds in traditional, crewed aviation.
As of June 2024, customers place their orders directly through the Walmart app. Upon selecting their address (and assuming the address is approved), customers can navigate to a screen displaying items eligible for delivery.
Sure, they can always select traditional methods like in-store pickup or delivery on wheels. But should they select drone delivery, they’ll be able to pick certain items. The drones can only carry packages weighing up to about 2.5 pounds, so there’s a natural limitation there. A Wing employee told me that one of their most popular orders is limes. Presumably, people making margaritas forgot a key ingredient. The quick nature of drone delivery can ship it before the house guests have even arrived.
Besides a weight limit, there’s also a size limit. Drones carry boxes designed specifically to fit in the aircraft, so large items won’t work, no matter how light they are. For example, I thought about ordering a dozen eggs. However, the Walmart app only gave me the option for a six-pack (I’m guessing the long, dozen-carton shape wouldn’t fit in the box).
Upon selecting your delivery item, you check out as you’d normally expect. That means entering your credit card number for payment.
The app keeps you up-to-date in real time, displaying your order status, which includes a map of where the drone is and a clock giving ongoing estimates of the arrival.
Once you place an order, a Walmart order packs it, using items from the store shelves. The employee then brings that box out to the Nest, where a person secures it to the aircraft. Then, the drone chooses a “best route” — and that route is almost never the same. That “best” route takes into account factors like wind, which contributes to why it’s different every time.
Wing drones can fly a roundtrip distance of up to 12 miles.
Upon arrival at your home (or in my case, my temporarily-adopted park home), the aircraft gently lowers your order down via its tether and unclips the item for you. Wing recommends you wait until the package fully detaches, upon which you can grab it.
Texas heat called for a refreshing beverage, so I ordered a Powerade for my first drone delivery. It arrived in a speedy 10 minutes, considering the short distance.
To test the system’s limits, I followed up with a slightly more “challenging” order – a glass jar of Alfredo sauce. Thankfully, the jar arrived intact, thanks to the slow and controlled release from the tether.
I spent about an hour on a Friday morning at Wing’s Nest at a Fort Worth Walmart store. That said, I saw only a couple orders placed from customers who weren’t me. Meanwhile, the Walmart store itself was actually pretty busy with customers packing shopping carts.
Wing drones have a strict weight limit. Someone stocking up for groceries for the week ahead, or for supplies for a big party, wouldn’t benefit from drone delivery. It’s more for those one-off items, like the last-minute, forgotten limes.
Drone delivery has especially powerful use cases in situations like emergency medical deliveries, where medication or other supplies needs to be shipped quickly (and doesn’t take up a lot of space). Wing is testing that very thing in Ireland.
The Powerade I ordered was nice on this hot, Dallas day. The Alfredo sauce was a fun party trick. With that, I’m curious to see how sustainable these operations are.
For what it’s worth, I’ve talked to regular people who rely on drone delivery on a nearly-daily basis. One customer, an elderly woman with vision issues who is unable to drive, found drone delivery to be far more convenient than navigating a physical retail store (let alone getting there). Another guy who worked from home (and out of walking distance of any restaurants or cafes) told me he ordered his lunch via drone 3-4x a week. He said his alternative was a delivery service like DoorDash. Since he felt obligated to tip a human driver, he said drone delivery netted out cheaper.
It could be a hit especially during the holidays. A Wing survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers found that 74% of consumers are interested in saving time running holiday errands with near-instant delivery. A drone allows you to skip the trip to the store, which can be especially stress-relieving during the busy holiday season.
Customers are also particularly interested in faster deliveries. Because drones aren’t even contingent upon human delivery drivers, drone delivery has a potential leg up on other types of online ordering. Wing surveyed 5,000 consumers nationwide as part of its 2024 State of Grocery Shopping and Delivery report.
The report found that 84% of shoppers expect their grocery orders to arrive within the same day. What’s more, 30% want delivery within the hour. And yes, they truly are willing to pay for it. 76% of survey respondents said they’d pay more to have their order within 30 minutes or less.
And here’s something else that’s promising for the future off drone delivery.A higher than average rate, 83% of Gen Z survey respondents, said they would pay more for ultra-fast deliveries. Older generations have more patience, presumably.
Wing, alongside the other drone delivery players in Texas, says it intends to continue its growth trajectory. In fact, an estimated 75% of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro will have access to drone delivery by the end of 2024 via Walmart and its drone delivery partners alone.
Much of that growth can be attributed to a July 2024 approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. With that, the FAA authorized both Wing and Zipline to conduct commercial drone flights without visual observers in the same Dallas-area airspace. That’s a first for U.S. aviation.
Wing itself continues to iterate on its software and hardware. We continuously see new prototype aircraft coming out of Wing. Its also experimented with new mechanisms, like its Autoloader hardware and its Wing Delivery Network software system.
Walmart is definitely crushing the space — and so is Wing. (It’s certainly not Amazon.)
Time will tell how regulatory approvals go — and if it’s commercially viable beyond fun stunt to try a few times. I enjoyed my Powerade delivered via drone, and I eagerly await the next one.
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Urgent blood samples will be transported by electric drones in a medical delivery service which aims to improve patient care by speeding up turnaround times. Moving samples between Guy’s Hospital and the lab at St Thomas’ Hospital can take more than half an hour by road but takes less than two minutes by drone. This […]DJI’s latest action camera, the Osmo Action 5 Pro, launched on Sept. 19 as the latest edition to its Osmo action camera series. But whereas in the past, it was generally accepted that you were getting portability, durability and a waterproof shell in exchange for a lower-quality camera than any sort of professional SLR or mirrorless camera, there’s no need to make a tradeoff here.
The Osmo Action 5 Pro has some standout specs that — not only are they the first of their kind within the market of action cameras — rival professional cameras. Some of its standout features:
Compare that to GoPro’s latest camera, the HERO13 Black, which also launched in September 2024‚ just a couple weeks back. The HERO13 Black offers a 1/1.9″ CMOS and up to just 2.5 hours of record time.
The standard Osmo Action 5 Pro combo starts at $349. That undercuts the HERO13 Black, which starts at $399, by $50.
This big DJI launch comes just a few weeks after the drone and camera-making behemoth launched another compelling product, the DJI Neo drone. It’s clear that DJI is non-stop, full-steam ahead — and the Osmo Action 5 Pro is yet another example of that.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new Osmo Action 5 Pro, and how it compares to other top action cameras including the GoPro HERO13 Black:
Here’s a deep dive into some key Osmo Action 5 Pro specs:
It’s a camera, so, well, camera quality is key. Especially compared to the old model, the Osmo Action 4, this is a huge upgrade. With a 1/1.3-inch sensor that boasts an equivalent pixel size of 2.4 μm and a high dynamic range of 13.5 stops, that’s 1.5 stops higher than that of Osmo Action 4.
That should be especially noticeable when filming in low-light conditions.
The battery life improvement is massive. The Osmo Action 5 Pro can film up to four hours on a single battery. That’s a 50% improvement from the old model, the Osmo Action 4. It’s also 50% more life than its top competitor, the HERO13 Black. Of course, all of those figures are higher than what DJI claims is an industry average of just two hours.
So how does DJI manage to make an action camera that’s twice the industry average? A few factors come into play:
Now there are some exceptions for that long battery life. For example, battery life is lower in extreme temperatures. Use it in super cold weather (as low as -20° C or -4°F) and battery life drops slightly to 3.6 hours. Of course, that’s still far higher than the GoPro HERO13 Black.
And what happens when your battery does ultimately die off, four hours in? You might use the DJI 30W USB-C Charger (an additional $19 add-on) to gain an additional two hours of time — after just 15 minutes of charging.
DJI has long been a leader in follow-me drones. Similar tech is front and center with the Osmo Action 5 Pro, which is the first action camera to offer built-in subject centering and tracking. In short, the camera can lock onto your desired subject’s position. From there, it can adjust the composition in real time to keep that subject in the center of your frame.
Action cameras have long been popular as underwater cameras. In the past, waterproof cases have been required, though camera technology has improved to the point where cases aren’t necessary in shallower depths (due to less pressure).
With this one, you won’t need a case until you get 20 meters (65 feet) deep. That’s about the length of a semitrailer, meaning you likely won’t need a case if you’re using it somewhere like a pool. If you’re not sure how deep you are, a built-in pressure gauge records underwater depth, duration, and altitude data — ensuring both the safety of you and your precious camera.
Here’s an example of a shot (provided by DJI) taken underwater on the Osmo Action 5 Pro:
The camera is super popular with divers, and it’s EN13319-certified (a diving safety standard).
The Osmo Action 5 Pro stands out for its two touchscreens on either side. It’s hard to miss them for a few reasons, notably high bright they are. The OLED high-brightness displays can ramp up to 1000 cd/. Not only does that just look cool, but it addresses a common prior complaint that it can be difficult to see the screen if it’s super bright outside.
The actual size and shape of the camera is largely the same as the old Osmo Action 4 version. But, DJI increased the size of the screen this time around.
One area where DJI has long stood out (and constantly improved) is its actual workflow process. In the early days of action cameras, you couldn’t even see what the camera was seeing. You simply pointed and shot onto a memory card. From there, you’d have to plug it into your computer to see what you got.
Then, apps got better, enabling you to at least see what the camera saw through your smartphone. From there, technological improvements allowed you to instantly have a low-quality feed on your smartphone.
But what if that step went away completely? It has.
Now, you can record up to 47 GB directly onto the camera (that’s hours of footage). No separate memory card needed. You ca also quickly transfer it to your computer or phone via Wi-Fi at high speeds up to 80 MB/s. (You can do it potentially even faster via USB).
Should you want to livestream from your Osmo Action 5 Pro, you can do that too.
DJI has also worked in some cool features that make it easy to sync footage from all sorts of cameras. Presumably, you wouldn’t shoot an entire film on an action camera, but would rely on it for a few clips (like underwater shots). If that’s you, DJI has streamlined the process with features like timecodes that make it easier to synchronize footage from multiple cameras. Highlight features allow you to tag key moments so they’re easier to find down the editing road.
Speaking of editing, DJI offers an in-house editing app for smartphones and tablets called DJI Mimo. (Though, professional users might still prefer more robust video editing apps).
Yes, the Osmo Action 5 Pro records audio. Though, the quality is kind of meh. It’ll do the job, particularly if you’re seeking ambient sounds.
But, if you want to record what people are saying, you’re best off also buying the DJI Mic 2. This external mic can connect to the action 5 Pro using Bluetooth — meaning no separate receiver is necessary.
Both the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 13 Black launched in September 2024, pitting what was already competitors even closer against each other. Here’s a look at how they compare:
| Feature | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro | GoPro Hero 13 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | September 2024 | September 2024 |
| Sensor Size | 1/1.3-inch | 1/1.3-inch |
| Video Resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Stabilization | RockSteady 3.0/3.0+ HorizonSteady, HorizonBalancing |
360 Horizon Lock & Horizon Leveling |
| Color Science | DJI’s proprietary color science | GoPro’s color profiles |
| Max Photo resolution | 40 MP | 27.13 MP |
| Touchscreen Interface | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof Depth | Up to 60 meters | Up to 164 feet |
| Built-in storage | 47 GB | None |
| Starting Price | $349 | $399 |
The Osmo Action 5 Pro dominates on practically every level. It has a way longer battery life. Its user flow is better, such as its built-in storage and depth gauge.
Oh, and it’s even cheaper.
So why might want still opt for the GoPro? GoPro does still have some interesting features going for it, like the HB-Lens system that makes it more like a modular camera. That could unlock some shooting options and potential for higher resolution.
But for most people, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is the clear winner by far. And it’s a signed that, even if Congress bans DJI drones in the U.S., DJI is going to be a dominate camera maker in America, no matter what. DJI made it so GoPro’s Karma drone never had a flying chance. It seems like GoPro Action cameras are losing their stronghold, too.
The Osmo Action 5 Pro is already available now at major retailers. There are a few versions, where the more expensive version gets you a few more accessories that offer some small savings versus buying them a la carte, separately:
The key difference between the Adventure Combo and the Standard Combo (which is $100 cheaper) is that the former throws in two more Extreme Batteries ($60 value), plus a 1.5m Extension Rod ($50 value).
Alongside the camera comes a few other accessories, which include:
Some of those accessories are not actually new. Many have been sold with prior versions of the Osmo Action. And yes, that’s good news for people looking to upgrade from the Osmo Action 4 to the Action 5 Pro — as at least most accessories are still compatible.
The new accessories include: Osmo Action Multifunctional Charging Handle, Osmo Helmet Chin Mount Clip, Osmo Action Cold Shoe Expansion Kit and Osmo Flexible Mount.
It’s also compatible with some third-party accessories if you use the Quick-Release Adapter Mount.
DJI also sells DJI Care Refresh, which is an extended warranty plan for DJI products. For an extra fee, you can get a replacement for accidental damage including natural wear, collisions, and water damage. Though, even with DJI Care Refresh, DJI forces you to have some skin in the game. You’ll have to pay a small, additional charge in order to get your replacement.
DJI Care Refresh for the Osmo Action 5 Pro comes in two forms:
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Quantum Solutions and TOPODRONE Introduce the Q.Fly, a DJI-Compatible SWIR Camera for UAV Applications Quantum Solutions and TOPODRONE have announced the release of the Q.Fly, a Quantum Dot Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) Camera designed specifically for UAV platforms. The Q.Fly is DJI-ready, allowing for seamless integration with DJI Matrice 300 and DJI Matrice 350 RTK […]
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A new initiative focuses on drone technology to improve pollination in UK strawberry crops, enhancing food security. A project titled “Precision Pollination for Higher Strawberry Productivity and Quality” is exploring how drones can help improve strawberry yields and fruit quality in the UK. The initiative brings together expertise from the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Angus Soft […]
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AI-Powered Drones Demonstrate Advanced Capabilities in Radio-Jammed Environments, Paving the Way for Future Combat Systems by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb European aerospace giant Airbus and German drone developer Quantum Systems recently announced that their AI drone swarm technology had been successfully tested at the Airbus Drone Center near Manching, marking the conclusion of […]
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Wing, a leader in drone logistics, has published its latest report titled “Beyond the Aisle: The Future of Autonomous Drone Delivery.” The report explores the current landscape of drone delivery and its potential to transform industries far beyond grocery and retail. This summary highlights the key takeaways and insights presented in the report. Growth in […]
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The latest in an occasional column on bringing products to market in emerging technologies, by industry marketing expert Amy T. Wiegand: Go-to-Market Propeller. Go-to-Market Propeller is the practical support a growing industry needs – getting from innovation to sales. In this article: how technical leaders can better support fundraising and sales. by Amy T. Wiegand […]
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– Boeing is designing a larger, land-based version of its uncrewed MQ-25 tanker, targeting U.S. Air Force (USAF) future refueling plans including topping up Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in contested airspace. Company officials say they have been working with the Air Force on the design, which expands the 75-ft. wingspan of the Navy’s Stingray design […]