Walmart

Until now, most 3D-printed architecture has been focused on housing or research projects. However, the burgeoning technology has come to the retail sector in a big way with a new 3D-printed extension for Walmart.

Drones, driverless trucks and zippy little cargo pods could all feature as part of Walmart's future delivery services, and a new agreement with EV outfit Canoo brings another next-gen vehicle into the mix – the Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV).

Walmart is pressing ahead with its ambitions in aerial cargo transport, announcing plans to offer a same-day drone delivery service in six US states where goods will be dropped off in as little as 30 minutes.

CDC investigators have homed in on an aromatherapy room spray sold at Walmart as the source of a small outbreak of the rare tropical disease melioidosis. The spray contained traces of bacteria known to cause the disease and has now been recalled.

Walmart is pressing ahead with its efforts to automate certain parts of its logistics operations, today announcing plans to conduct tests of completely driverless trucks along a leg of its supply chain in Arkansas.

Zipline has announced a new partnership with Walmart to conduct pilot trials using its drones to fulfil health and wellness orders in one hour, with hopes of expanding to general merchandise if the first runs are successful.

As Waymo’s self-driving vehicles continue to clock up the miles, the company is focusing its trips based on feedback from the first year of its early riders program in Phoenix, Arizona. As well as expanding existing partnerships, Waymo has now teamed up with Walmart and DDR to streamline shopping.

​Machines already play a part in the shopping experience for many, with self-checkout kiosks popping up in stores all over the world. They now continue their push into retail, with Walmart expanding its trials of robots that roam the aisles for sections in need of attention.​​

Would you be comfortable with a Walmart employee wandering into your home and restocking your fridge? What if you could watch on as they did it? The retail giant is at least looking to test out this possibly unnecessary concept through a new partnership with smart home security company August.

If you buy something from one of America's retail giants sometime in the future, there's a growing chance a drone will be dropping it at your door. Walmart has applied for permission to begin testing drones fro home delivery, according to a report from Reuters.