A Zipline drone takes off with Walmart products from a Neighborhood Market in Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Photo: Worth Sparkman/Axios

Autonomous drones are now delivering Walmart packages into customers' yards in Pea Ridge.

Driving the news: A pilot project officially started this week behind a Neighborhood Market about 20 minutes from the retailer's home office.

• Walmart and drone-maker Zipline will use the program to learn while they consider how — or if — to launch the service in other markets.

The big picture: Customers increasingly expect the retail giant to get products into their hands from a store or fulfillment center as quickly as possible.

• The Zipline method, which can drop a package of about 4 pounds within 30 minutes of being ordered, helps fill in the "last mile" of the supply chain.
• Delivery-by-drone is estimated to be a $115 billion industry by 2035.

How it works: Customers within the service area schedule an online order. A Walmart employee packs the product and hands it off to a Zipline staffer.

• Zipline preps and launches the aircraft from a special platform, which drops the package with a biodegradable parachute.
• Officials told Axios that packages consistently land in an area the size of two parking spots.

The drone returns to the platform for another order.

The intrigue: The Zipline drones are in flight on their own, with no cameras or pilot directing.

• It circles a target to determine wind direction, then approaches the drop zone from the best option so the package lands on the customer's property.
• In addition to autonomous programming, its 11-foot wings are equipped with sensors to ensure it doesn't go where it's not supposed to go.

What they're saying: Zipline COO Liam O'Connor told Axios a drone could launch from the site every 90 seconds, potentially making hundreds of deliveries a day.

• He acknowledged the market is competitive with Alphabet and Amazon but thinks Zipline's track record of delivering medicine in Rwanda and Ghana gives it an edge.

What we're watching: The drones are operating under a waiver from the FAA that permits flight within limited airspace and only during daylight. Eventually, they could reach a 50-mile radius.

• Walmart told us it is working with the FAA to expand delivery to even more customers in Northwest Arkansas but had no timeline.

Editor's note: Reporter Worth Sparkman is a Walmart shareholder.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College will soon start recruiting applicants for a new president.

Driving the news: The Board of Trustees met with consultant Kennon Briggs on Wednesday to discuss what they, the community, students, faculty and staff want in a president following a series of forums and surveys.

Why it matters: NWACC is the region's flagship community college that offers a range of programs for nondegree and degree-seeking students. Also, it's instrumental in training people for jobs in the region.

How it works: NWACC hired the Association of Community College Trustees of Washington to conduct the search. They will pay up to $49,500 for the organization’s consulting services, the college's spokesperson Grant Hodges told Axios.

Flashback: NWACC president Evelyn Jorgenson announced in February that she will retire when her contract expires June 30, 2022.

• She has been the president since 2013.

What's next: The plan is to hire someone in April who will start in July, according to the contract with the Association of Community College Trustees of Washington.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and that means it's time for Fayetteville's downtown square to transform into its own little wonderland.

Details: All 500,000 lights come on at 6pm tonight, followed by a parade and festivities like music, food trucks, other vendors, and free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

What's next: The lights will be on each night from 5pm to 1am through Jan. 1.

For the planners: See a map of the parade.

Put this in the ironic file.

What's happening: The Tyson brand, which is one of many under Tyson Foods, is running a promotion to make chicken the official bird of Friendsgiving. To encourage participation, a sweepstakes will award one lucky winner time in Austin, Texas, with nine of their closest friends.

Double take: Austin?

Yes, but: As we've reported recently, the Northwest Arkansas Council, of which Tyson is a founding member, is actively recruiting Austin residents to move here.

Yes, and: OZ Brands recently ran a promotion offering 10 Austinites a one-way ticket to — you guessed it — Northwest Arkansas.

• We're told the winners have been selected from about 100 applicants. Announcements are coming soon.

The other side: A Tyson brand spokesperson told us there are a couple of cities known for good food, music and getting together that were in consideration. Austin, known for all those things, just happened to be the one to make the cut.

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Editor's note: Reporter Worth Sparkman formerly worked at Tyson Foods.