It ’s every stoned college kid ’s dream : Flying burritos delivered on demand with the push of a button . And if Chipotle and Alphabet ’s Project Wing have their way , that dream could presently become a reality . The companies will get testing their burrito - speech drones at Virginia Tech next hebdomad .
Alphabet ’s Project Wing , a branch of the behemoth tech company formerly get it on as Google , announced the tests today , which will include autonomous drones being monitor by human operator . But the drones wo n’t take off from Chipotle stores with orders . Instead , trial run participants will order from a extra kiosk on campus , prompt the bourdon to take off from Chipotle food trucks and at long last lower the packages to the ground .
“ Project Wing will be working with the Mid - Atlantic Aviation Partnership ( MAAP ) to transmit this test , ” Project Wing representative Jacquelyn Miller told me in a statement over electronic mail . “ MAAP runs an FAA test website at Virginia Tech , which is operate for the intention of gathering enquiry information to influence regulations and operating procedures for future app of UAS ( unmanned aerial systems ) and eventually helping them integrate safely into the national airspace . ”
lamentably for current pupil at Virginia Tech , the exam is shut down off to the populace . So you wo n’t be able-bodied to try out it for yourself quite yet . But keep your eye out for drone buzz campus skies next workweek . And why not email us a film when they do ?
As an interesting sidenote , I came upon a rather flustered vocalize FAA spokesperson when I call up to require for comment .
“ This is the first I ’ve pick up that Chipotle is ask , so apparently you ’ll have to blab with Virginia Tech about that , ” the FAA spokesperson order me over the sound . The interpreter confirm that they had worked with Project Wing on the public press waiver for the coming test and that it contained no mention of Chipotle when he looked at it . Update 3:53pm : The representative followed up with me and wanted to make clear that while he was n’t aware of Chipotle ’s involvement , other FAA officials work on the project were aware of Chipotle ’s engagement .
But as far as the FAA is concerned , everything is on the up and up since Project Wing has a blanket say-so at their test sites for testing drones for package speech under 400 metrical foot . Virginia Tech , of course , is now one of their authorized trial sites .
A spokesperson for Chipotle declined to answer question about the program and referred me to Project Wing since “ they are really execute the program . ”
Plenty of companies are testing intellectual nourishment and package bringing via radio-controlled aircraft around the world . But we ’ll see how rapidly they become a reality . I think I talk for stone college kids everywhere when I say that the burrito drone future tense ca n’t descend shortly enough .
Daily Newsletter
Get the good technical school , scientific discipline , and culture tidings in your inbox daily .
News from the future , surrender to your nowadays .
