IKEA has announced plans to deploy autonomous, AI-powered drones at its distribution center in Perryville, Maryland, as detailed in a press release issued on Friday. This marks a significant development, as it represents the first instance of IKEA integrating these drones into its operations within the United States. The company has been experimenting with drone technology worldwide since 2021, but this initiative will see drones working directly alongside IKEA employees to enhance inventory management and alleviate the physical demands placed on human workers.
Parag Parekh, IKEA’s Global Chief Digital Officer for Retail, provided insights into the innovative technology behind these drones. According to Parekh, “The IKEA drones are equipped with an AI-driven algorithm designed to locate and photograph product storage areas.” He elaborated that the drones operate on a pre-scheduled flight path, facilitated by a specialized indoor positioning system that allows them to navigate to higher storage levels (levels 3 and above). These drones are also equipped with advanced obstacle detection technology, enabling them to avoid collisions by dynamically adjusting their flight paths.
The drones being introduced are manufactured by Verity, a company known for its drone technology and operations. Verity has shared demonstrations of their drones in action on YouTube, highlighting their capabilities. To date, Verity’s drones are in operation across 73 IKEA locations in nine countries, with a total of 250 drones currently deployed.
Claes Lindgren, IKEA’s global logistics leader, emphasized the benefits of integrating drones into the company’s logistics framework. “The implementation of drones represents a win-win scenario. It simplifies our processes within logistics units, enhances inventory accuracy, and ultimately contributes to a better overall customer experience,” Lindgren noted.
In contrast to IKEA’s growing reliance on drone technology for logistical purposes, other companies are reassessing their use of drones in direct consumer interactions. Walmart, for example, announced on Friday that it is significantly reducing its drone operations by closing 18 delivery hubs located in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Tampa. However, the retailer will continue to utilize drone delivery services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as reported by Axios.
The downsizing at Walmart’s drone partner, DroneUp, will result in approximately 70 job losses, representing about 17% of DroneUp’s workforce. The primary issue cited is the high cost of drone delivery, which currently averages around $30 per package. DroneUp’s CEO, Tom Walker, expressed the company’s goal to reduce this cost to $7 per delivery, which would be more competitive with traditional ground-based delivery systems. This financial challenge highlights the differences in cost-effectiveness between drones used for warehouse logistics, as in IKEA’s case, and those used for direct consumer deliveries.
At this time, IKEA has not provided specific details regarding the timeline for the rollout of its drones in the U.S. or the potential expansion to other distribution centers. Gizmodo will provide updates on this development as more information becomes available.
