Together with the University of Nevada at Reno, Flirtey, a drone startup that previously made headlines by completing the first FAA-approved drone delivery in a rural area, has managed to repeat its notable feat, successfully utilizing an autonomous drone to deliver a small package to an urban area in Hawthorne, located southeast of Reno.
Utilizing one of the company's six-rotor autonomous drones, Flirtey was able to deliver a small package consisting of food, water and a first-aid kit in a box to an uninhabited house in the Hawthorne area. The test delivery, which was conducted on Match 10, was officially announced by the startup on Friday.
Flirtey CEO Matt Sweeney expressed his optimism about the possibilities opened by fully autonomous drone deliveries.
"Conducting the first drone delivery in an urban setting is a major achievement, taking us closer to the day that drones make regular deliveries to your front doorstep," he said.
Drone deliveries are currently being explored as one of the possible options for the future of deliveries. In fact, significant funding has already been invested by market giants such as Google, Amazon and Walmart, all of whom are exploring the idea of utilizing drones to deliver small packages to customers.
However, the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration have been known to be quite strict. In fact, the process of acquiring clearance from the FAA has become so notable that companies such as Amazon have opted to test out their delivery drones in other countries such as the Netherlands and Canada instead.
Despite the FAA's strict regulations, Flirtey has been able to get the FAA's elusive approval, thanks to the company's significant experienced in drone deliveries in New Zealand and Australia. Of course, its successful delivery of emergency supplies to a medical clinic in rural Virginia further established the company's reputation.
Flirtey has also moved its center of operations from Australia to Nevada, granting employment opportunities to the state's residents. In an announcement about the successful delivery, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval extended his congratulations to the company.
"I am thrilled that Flirtey is not only testing its cutting-edge technology in Nevada, but also creating jobs through its headquarters relocation to Reno," he said.
Of course, Flirtey's test delivery on Hawthorne is but a step in the company's pursuit of providing delivery services to fully urban areas. After all, the maze of buildings in a highly populated metropolis are extremely different from the relatively easy route the test drone followed in Hawthorne.
Nevertheless, the company's test flight is still a very notable achievement. In fact, with its successful delivery in Hawthorne, the drone startup has just made history.
