The Federal Aviation Administration is still developing the framework for how a new air-traffic system for the devices would work. However, attaining those goals depends on changes to US rules that currently require flights to remain within a drone operator's line of sight. About 90 per cent of Americans live within 10 miles of one of Walmart’s more than 4,700 stores.

The new method of delivery has been perceived as an extension of Walmart’s strategy to use its huge physical footprint as a competitive edge. The expanded network will give Walmart the capacity to deliver one million packages by air in a year, the company said. 'Case in point: the top-selling item at one of our current hubs is Hamburger Helper.' 'While we initially thought customers would use the service for emergency items, we're finding they use it for its sheer convenience, like a quick fix for a weeknight meal,' said David Guggina, Walmart's senior vice president of innovation and automation. The company originally launched the programme in November 2021 but until now the retailer had only offered its drone delivery services from a few stores near its headquarters in northwest Arkansas and North Carolina. The deliveries will be fulfilled from a total of 37 stores, reaching households in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The delivery service costs $3.99 (£3.17) for a package of up to 10 pounds and takes 30 minutes or less to arrive. Through an expansion of the partnership with drone manufacturer DroneUp, Walmart will be able to send packages to clients via drones, lowering the items to customers homes using a cable. The company’s drones are expected to reach four million people by the end of 2022. Walmart is planning the largest-scale rollout of drone delivery services so far.

Walmart drone station