Burden lifting? | Amazon, Walmart expand use of 'humanoid' robots & drones for delivery work

Retail giants Walmart and Amazon are making further moves into worker automation and tech-enabled logistics with drones and humanoid robot deliveries.

Walmart announced a major expansion of its drone delivery service, while Amazon is developing humanoid robots to support both delivery and warehouse operations.

Walmart's latest move will see its drone delivery service scaled to 100 stores across five states, making it the first retailer to roll out the technology across Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. Customers in cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa can now receive deliveries in under 30 minutes.

“As we look ahead, drone delivery will remain a key part of our commitment to redefining retail,” said Greg Cathey, senior vice president of Walmart US Transformation and Innovation. “This expansion of our drone delivery service marks a significant milestone in that journey.”