Alphabet Inc. is launching a drone delivery service in the Australian capital of Canberra that will allow residents to order food, coffee and medicine through an app.

The company’s Wing subsidiary, which runs the project, announced the move today after receiving the go-ahead from the local Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The approval follows an 18-month trial on the outskirts of Canberra that saw the group complete more than 3,000 shipments without a safety incident.

Wing is initially making the service available in three of the capital’s northern suburbs. A dozen local businesses have partnered with the group so far to offer drone deliveries, with the Alphabet subsidiary saying that its aircraft can ferry goods to users in a matter of minutes. Wing’s plan is to expand coverage to more parts of the city in the coming months.

In preparation for today’s launch, the group has reportedly set up a dedicated depot with several dozen drones. They’re not the same aircraft that Wing started with when it first set up shop in Canberra. The Alphabet subsidiary has made modifications to address noise complaints received during the 18-month trial, with the new models described as half as loud as the originals.

Wing will make deliveries seven days a week from 7 a.m. (8 a.m. on Sundays) until 8 p.m. For safety reasons, the group’s drones are required to avoid major traffic arteries and fly at least 16.4 feet above passersby.

The launch of the service represents a big milestone for Wing’s effort to make airborne delivery a reality in metropolitan areas. But the hardest part is yet to come. To scale its service, the group will have to make significant investments in drones and supporting infrastructure, as well as secure regulatory approvals in the markets to which it plans to expand. 

One factor that may make the endeavor particularly costly is the limited range of Wing’s drones. According to the Australian aviation authority’s website, the aircraft can only make deliveries within a six-mile radius of their depot, which means any large-scale expansion would require Wing to build an extensive network of facilities.

The Alphabet subsidiary isn’t the only player tackling this challenge. Amazon.com is working on delivery drones as well, while an Israeli startup called Flytrex Ltd. is doing an airborne shipping service trial in Iceland.

Photo: Wing