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In a closely guarded experiment involving the future of transportation, Project Wing — a division of X, founded by Google and now a child of Alphabet Inc. — is air-dropping fast food onto the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Drone technology is evolving so rapidly that companies such as UPS Inc., FedEx Corp. and Amazon.com could be using them within five years, according to industry watchers.

UPS Inc., teaming up with drone-maker CyPhy Works, announced drone tests to deliver packages in remote areas.

Mercedes-Benz is looking at mounting automated flying drones onto a new line of electric vans as part of a $562 million investment aimed at speeding delivery times for online orders.

BNSF Railway Co. is flying drones as far as 150 miles along the New Mexico desert to inspect tracks, helping the Federal Aviation Administration develop rules for operating unmanned aircraft beyond the pilot’s line of sight.

The Obama administration is opening U.S. skies to more commercial drones with long-awaited regulations that the government hopes will spawn new industries for inspecting bridges, monitoring crops and taking aerial photography.

German firm Deutsche Post DHL completed a three-month test of delivery drone Parcelcopter on May 9 and became the first postal service to successfully deliver packages to customers by drone, according to the company.

Drones soon will be boosting crop yields, verifying insurance claims and assisting in Hollywood blockbusters in a business that’s due to boom by more than 6,000% by the end of the decade.

UPS Inc. is backing a start-up using drones in Rwanda to transport life-saving blood supplies and vaccines, underlining the wide potential for the unmanned aircraft and helping bring package delivery by drone to U.S. consumers a step closer.

Forget flying drones. When it comes to predictions on what sci-fi method might bring you hot pizza, aspirin, groceries or new shoes, some experts bet that delivery robots rolling down sidewalks will beat out airborne couriers.