Wal-Mart has applied for permission to begin testing home delivery by drones — a move intended to ensure that online rivals Amazon and Google don’t corner the much-hyped market before it gets off the ground.

In an application submitted  Monday to the Federal Aviation Administration, Wal-Mart asked for permission to begin outdoor trails of drone technology and revealed it has been conducting indoor tests for several months.

The company said it is interested in researching the use of drones both within its supply chain and as a way of delivering goods to customers.

It plans to use two models of drone, both from China’s DJI: a DJI Phantom 3 and DJI S900.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here