The US will let drones fly like never before

Entrants who won a coveted slot in a new program sponsored by the federal government will be permitted to perform unprecedented drone trials.
The news: Ten winning state and local governments were announced yesterday from a field of 149 applications. At least 200 companies had partnered with applicants as well—winners included Intel, FedEx, and Alphabet.
The pilot program: Participants will have the freedom to perform tests that were previously prohibited, including flying drones over populated areas, in the dark, and out of sight. Two of the winning projects were Lee County Florida’s plan to control mosquito populations and North Carolina’s proposal to test medical delivery operations with Zipline.
Why it matters: The US has been dragging its feet on drone experiments and policy. The new program will play a crucial role in shaping policy for the drone industry in America.