The past year has been filled with uncertainty because of the global spread of COVID-19. When looking at all of the modern advances we have achieved, it is hard to come to terms with how the coronavirus was not only able to spread so rampantly, but that it took so long to begin getting it under control. On the positive side, the circumstances of the pandemic have forced other technologies to speed up production. One such technology that has seen a major boon during the pandemic is the drone sector. As people have had to quarantine and maintain social distancing, drones have served as a tool to sanitize public spaces and enforce COVID-19 safety regulations. They have also helped to keep people working, connected, and receiving products they need. The drone technology that has enabled all of this was there and ready, but it wasn’t until the world demanded it that this technology got to spread its wings.

For several years now, consumers have been teased with the possibility of receiving delivery of goods by drones. There have been several successful drone delivery trials in the United States and abroad. Most of these deliveries are of small personal items, pharmacy needs, or food takeout. Because of COVID-19, many of these drone delivery trials have included the transportation of COVID-19 test kits, PPEs, medications, and now vaccine shipments. This has been particularly important to ensure people living in remote areas have access to the equipment needed to survive in a post pandemic world. And while it may not be as vital as the delivery of medications, a vast majority of the world has become dependent on receiving regular food deliveries.

With restaurants mostly closed to the public, food delivery has increased tremendously. Some drones can deliver small meals like a few burgers, fries, and drinks. But two main problems exist with aerial drone food deliveries. The first is that the drones are limited as to how much they can carry, which amounts to only enough food for 1-2 people at best. The second issue is that the FAA is still working out safety regulations for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight) aerial deliveries. As of right now, a drone must be kept within sight of its pilot at all times. This limits the range of delivery options. A company based out of Mountain View, California has found a way to use drones BVLOS for longer distance, autonomous deliveries. The trick is to keep the drone on the ground!

Jiajun Zhu and Dave Ferguson met while working on Google’s self driving car project, Waymo. In 2016, the two left to develop their own autonomous car concept and founded Nuro that September. Nuro’s first ground drone, the R1, was released in January of 2018. The R1 was a little over 6ft tall, about half the width of a car, and weighed 1,500lbs. Its interior had enough room to transport 12 large bags of groceries. R1 began its first partnership autonomously delivering groceries for Kroger in June of 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. In February of 2020, Nuro announced plans to begin testing its second generation drone, the R2. This new vehicle is 6ft tall, 3.5ft wide, and weighs 2,535lbs. It can carry an additional 419lbs and has a maximum speed of 25mph. The sleek rounded body of the R2 has no mirrors, but an array of cameras giving it 360 degree visibility. A large touch screen panel on the side of the drone allows customers to interact with the delivery robot. Access doors open pneumatically upwards rather than outward for ease of access.

Because Nuro’s drones carry goods rather than people, they were able to focus on safety concerns of the world outside of the vehicle. Nuro is the first company to be granted autonomous exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2019, Nuro announced that it was entering a partnership with Domino’s to begin using their drones to make deliveries in the Woodland Heights neighborhood of Houston, Texas. Customers place an order through Domino’s app or website, and when checking out, they can choose the option for robot delivery. Live GPS monitoring and text alerts let the customer track their delivery. When the drone arrives at the destination, the customer inputs a secure order code on the control panel, and the access door opens. Once the food is removed the customer presses done on the control panel, the doors close, and the R2 drives off.

Nuro’s drone delivery system satisfies the need that customers now have to receive contactless food deliveries. It is a fast, safe, and ecologically friendly system. The R2 has a zero carbon footprint and allows human employees to better focus their efforts on other tasks, like fulfilling orders. In an interview with CNBC, Morgan Brennan questioned Dave Ferguson as to the safety of the R2, one of the biggest concerns when it comes to integrating autonomous vehicles into shared spaces. Dave replied that in every aspect of designing the R2, safety was the guiding principle. He replied that the vehicles had been put through rigorous safety tests, and he is confident about them being safe from and for pedestrians and other vehicles. Going further, Dave expressed how autonomous vehicles, like the R2, will eventually make for safer roads altogether. “I think part of the reason we are so excited about building this technology is that we see it as a remarkable opportunity to improve safety on roads for all the communities that we operate in,” he said. “Ideally, long term, we want to drastically improve road safety with these vehicles.” So while the world adjusts to coming to terms with the uncertainty imposed from COVID-19, one thing has become abundantly evident. Drones, in their many capacities, have become the tools necessary to keep our society moving forward.