Technology

Alphabet -owned drone delivery spin-out Wing is starting to service U.S. customers, after becoming the first drone delivery company to get the federal go-ahead to do so earlier this year. Wing is working with FedEx Express and Walgreens on this pilot, and their first customers are Michael and Kelly Collver, who will get a &cough and cold pack,& which includes Tylenol, cough drops, facial tissues, Emergen-C and bottled water (do people who have colds need bottled water?).

The Collvers are receiving their package in Christianburg, Va., which is where Wing and Walgreens will run this inaugural pilot of the drone delivery service. Walgreens gets a noteworthy credit in the bargain, becoming the first U.S. retailer to do a store-to-customer doorstep delivery via drone, while FedEx will be the first logistics provider to deliver an e-commerce drone delivery with a separate shipment.

Wing is also working with VirginiaSugar Magnolia, a retailer local to the state, and that part of the equation is focused on proving out how Wing and drone delivery can service last-mile e-commerce customers at their homes. Sugar Magnolia customers can get small items, including chocolates and paper goods, delivered directly to them via drone through the new pilot.

Wing was able to do this with a new Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA that clears it for expanded service, specifically allowing Wingpilots to manage multiple aircraft flying without any human pilot on board at the same time, while providing service to the public.

Ita big milestone when it comes to U.S.-based drone delivery, and another sign that people should get ready for these services to start to be a more regular fixture. Earlier this month, UPS also secured FAA approval to operate a commercial drone delivery service, so the trials will probably come fast and furious at this point — though widespread service is probably still quite a ways off as both regulators and operators look to learn from their first limited deployments.

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1. Zuckerberg on Chinese censorship: Is that the internet we want?

The Facebook CEO spoke yesterday at Georgetown University, sharing his thoughts on speech and &how we might address the challenges that more voice and the internet introduce, and the major threats to free expression around the world.&

Among his arguments: China is exporting its social values, political ads are an important part of free expression and the definition of dangerous speech must be kept in check.

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Harley-Davidson has resumed production and deliveries of its electric LiveWire motorcycle after determining an issue with charging was isolated to a single vehicle.

Harley-Davidson halted production and delivery of its first electric motorcycle earlier this week after discovering what it described at the time as a &non-standard condition.& Harley-Davidson didn&t recall any of the LiveWire motorcycles already on the road, but it did stop production and deliveries, and began additional testing and analysis.

At the time, Harley-Davidson didn&t explain what the non-standard issue was, but TechCrunch has since learned that it was a charging-related problem on one motorcycle.

&After completing rigorous analysis this week, we have resumed LiveWire production and deliveries,& Harley-Davidson said in a comment emailed to TechCrunch. &Customers may continue riding their LiveWire motorcycle and are able to charge the motorcycle through all methods. Temporarily stopping LiveWire production allowed us to confirm that the non-standard condition identified on one motorcycle was a singular occurrence.&

The company added that this incident shows that its quality assurance measures are working as designed.

The production stoppage put a damper onHarley-Davidsonfirst foray into electrification just weeks after deliveries of LiveWire began to ramp up. The $29,799, 105 horsepower electric motorcycle was to be the first of a future line-up of EVs from Harley-Davidson spanning motorcycles, bicycles and scooters.

The LiveWire, which is meant to complement, not replace, Harley-Davidsonpremium internal-combustion cruiser motorcycles, went into production in 2019. Delivery to dealers began September 27.