The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that Matternet Inc.'s Model M2, a four-rotor copter capable of carrying a 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) package, is safe and reliable. Winning regulatory approval for aeronautical designs is one of the major hurdles that must be overcome before the devices can be used routinely for commercial purposes.
According to the FAA, "it is an important milestone in the FAA's support for the development of innovative drone technology."
Other constraints, such as the need for a low-altitude air-traffic system and rules to allow automated flights, remain before package delivery by aerial drone becomes widespread. However, FAA approval shows that the technology is maturing, and the agency considers this new type of rotor-powered vehicle to be as reliable as traditional aircraft.
The FAA action, known as a type certificate, is the first for an unpiloted vehicle since drones became more popular almost a decade ago. In the past, the agency had only granted limited approvals for drone designs.
One of the layers of safety that the FAA has traditionally applied to the aviation industry is the review of an aircraft's design. However, it has been difficult to adapt many of the basic rules, such as how to protect people on board, which has slowed the process of commercializing aerial drones. The approval has far-reaching implications for other novel aviation technologies, such as a new class of human-powered urban air taxis.
Matternet, headquartered in Mountain View, California, has collaborated with United Parcel Service Inc. and conducted FAA-approved delivery tests. It has also been active in other countries.
According to the FAA, the M2 drone will have a top speed of 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour and will fly no higher than 400 feet above the ground. A request for comment was not immediately returned by the company.
Several companies, including Alphabet Inc.'s Wing LLC and Amazon.com Inc.'s Prime Air, have been conducting tests and gradually gaining less expansive FAA approvals for what they hope will be a technology that transforms how products are delivered to people's homes.