Google said that its long-term goal was to develop drones that could be used for disaster relief by delivering aid to isolated areas. They could be used after earthquakes, floods, or extreme weather events, to take small items such as medicines or batteries to people in areas that conventional vehicles cannot reach, Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots - Google X's name for big-thinking projects, told the BBC.
The project was first conceived of as a way to deliver defibrillator kits to people suspected of having heart attacks. The idea was that the drones would transport the equipment faster than an ambulance could. Eventually Google said it could use unmanned flying vehicles to deliver shopping items to consumers at home.
The prototype vehicles that the company has built have successfully been tested by delivering packages to remote farms in Queensland, Australia from neighbouring properties. Australia was selected as a test site due to what Google calls "progressive" rules about the use of drones. Project Wing's aircraft have a wingspan of approximately 1.5m and four electric propellers. The total weight, including the package to be delivered, is approximately 10kg.
