Calling all Thin Mints fans! Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies can now be delivered right to your doorstep – by drone… IF you live in Christiansburg, Virginia. The town has been a testing arena for commercial drone delivery by Wing (a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google’s parent company). Before Girl Scout Thin Mints, starting in 2019, drugstore products, FedEx packages, local pastries, tacos, and cold brew coffees have been delivered by drone to residents of this community.

During the pandemic, Wing and the Girl Scout troops started discussing the lower number of cookie sales, due to the low percentage of the public visiting storefronts. That discussion led to an entirely new format for selling cookies. One young Girl Scout of Virginia Skyline Troop 224 said, “I’m excited that I get to be a part of history. People are going to realize and be, like, ‘Hey, this is better for the environment and I can just walk outside in my pajamas and get cookies.’”

Wing’s drones are able to autonomously navigate, powered by two forward propellers on their wings and 12 smaller vertical propellers. When one of these drones reaches its destination, it hovers above as a tether releases, dropping the package.

This is yet another attempt at bridging the gap between drone capabilities and negative public perception of drones. After all, Thin Mints can be a pretty persuasive tool.

Photo of Kathryn Rattigan Kathryn Rattigan

Kathryn Rattigan is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Data Privacy+ Cybersecurity Team. She concentrates her practice on privacy and security compliance under both state and federal regulations and advising clients on website and mobile app privacy and security…

Kathryn Rattigan is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Data Privacy+ Cybersecurity Team. She concentrates her practice on privacy and security compliance under both state and federal regulations and advising clients on website and mobile app privacy and security compliance. Kathryn helps clients review, revise and implement necessary policies and procedures under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). She also provides clients with the information needed to effectively and efficiently handle potential and confirmed data breaches while providing insight into federal regulations and requirements for notification and an assessment under state breach notification laws. Prior to joining the firm, Kathryn was an associate at Nixon Peabody. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Roger Williams University School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Stonehill College. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.