Uber to Reattempt Drone Food Delivery This Year

Uber Will (Once Again) Test Delivering Food by Drone This Year

Uber Eats is gearing up for yet another round of drone delivery trials, this time in collaboration with Flytrex, a prominent operator in the drone industry that has already established food delivery services in select regions of the U.S. Flytrex is among the few drone operators authorized by the FAA to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing them to safely manage deliveries out of sight of the pilot. This partnership aims to provide Uber Eats customers with their orders in mere minutes, while also alleviating traffic congestion in urban areas. The duo plans to launch their pilot program in targeted U.S. markets by the end of this year.

In this strategic collaboration, Uber is also making a significant investment in Flytrex, enhancing its capabilities to scale drone technology for a broader deployment across the U.S. “Autonomous technology is transforming mobility and delivery faster than ever before,” stated Sarfraz Maredia, President of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber. “With Flytrex, we’re entering the next chapter — bringing the speed and sustainability of drone delivery to the Uber Eats platform, at scale, for the first time.”

Reflecting on past attempts, Uber has a more extensive approach this time compared to its previous drone delivery tests. Back in 2018, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi hinted at launching a drone-based food delivery service by 2021. While the company made some test deliveries in partnership with McDonald’s in 2020, a broader rollout never materialized. Nonetheless, Uber previously showcased its own drone system designed for meal deliveries.

As drone delivery becomes increasingly viable, it sparks curiosity about how it will shape the future of food logistics. With the continuous advancement of technology, what are your thoughts on drone deliveries? Would you be excited to receive food via drone? Share your opinions in the comments!