Google launches Drone with larger payload capacity: 5 pounds per delivery, delivery in as fast as 10 minutes

Google parent company Alphabet launched a larger delivery drone. Its drone fleet subsidiary Wing demonstrated this new drone, which is larger than the previous model. It is about 50% larger and can transport packages weighing up to 5 pounds (about 2.27 kilograms).

According to the company, 30% of drone deliveries currently need to be split into multiple aircraft due to excessive weight. “To better serve this 30 percent of customers and further optimize our business, we will introduce a new drone to complement our existing fleet,” Wing CEO Adam Woodworth said on a page on the company’s website Said in the article.

Woodworth said that aside from the increased capacity, the new drones will perform roughly the same as existing models. This means it will have a round-trip range of 12 miles and a top speed of 65 miles per hour. However, the new drone will be able to deliver standard square packages, while the current model can only deliver rigid trapezoidal bags, which are smaller in size.

Woodworth also clarified that customers won’t see the new drone for a while as it’s currently in production, but it should be operational “within 12 months.”

Wing said at the event that these types of emergency deliveries are an important part of the company’s business. Woodworth said that under optimal conditions, the company is now able to deliver to your door within 10 minutes.

How the new aircraft will fit into the end-user experience depends on the partner, with Wing representatives saying Walmart may charge more based on the weight of the delivery.