Following the lead of Amazon, Google and other retailers, Walmart has become the latest company seeking permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct "flight tests" using drones for eventual commercial use.
Walmart applied to the FAA for an exemption from government regulations Monday, according to USA Today.
Walmart has reportedly been testing indoors over the past several months, and are now ready to go outdoors. If their request is approved, Walmart will be able to send its drones up to 400 feet above specified testing sites - including neighborhoods, Walmart stores and distribution centers.
This latest development is another sign that Walmart is aiming to compete with Amazon, which is the forerunner in commercial drone testing, reported Tom's Guide. The FAA gave Amazon permission to start testing drones in March after making its first application in July 2014.
Despite their initiative, getting a package from either company via unmanned aircraft won't happen anytime soon. Amazon said its still "years" away, and Walmart "couldn't put a time frame" on its roll out.
Spokesperson Brian Nick said that while the end goal will be to test home delivery, the "initial focus" will be shipping merchandise between distribution centers. The FAA filing reveals that the company is also looking into using drones at its stores for transporting customers' purchases across parking lots and security, according to CNN.
"Walmart is within 5 miles of 70% of the U.S. population," Nick said. "It creates some interesting possibilities."
