Google drone deliveries expected to start in 2017

David Vos, the leader for Alphabet's Project Wing, said hiscompany is in talks with the Federal Aviation Administration andother stakeholders about setting up an air traffic controlsystem for drones that would use cellular and internettechnology to coordinate unmanned aerial vehicle flights ataltitudes under 500 feet (152 metres).

Alphabet and Amazon.com Inc are among a growingnumber of companies that intend to make package delivery bydrone a reality. But drone deliveries are not expected to takeflight until after the FAA publishes final rules for commercialdrone operations, which are expected early next year.

New drone types, shapes coming

The prototype flown in Australia, 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) wideand 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) tall, shares the same four-propellerquad copter design as popular consumer drones, but the companysaid consumers can expect to see new vehicle types and shapes asthe project unfolds.

Vos, who is co-chair of an FAA task force charged withcoming up with a drone registry, said a system for identifyingdrone operators and keeping UAV away from other aircraft couldbe set up within 12 months.

Vos said a drone registry, which the Obama administrationhopes to set in place by Dec. 20, would be a first step toward asystem that could use wireless telecommunications and Internettechnology including cellphone applications to identify dronesand keep UAV clear of other aircraft and controlled airspace.