Your next Uber Eats order could be arriving from the sky. Uber Technologies announced Thursday it is partnering with autonomous drone company Flytrex to begin testing aerial food deliveries by the end of the year.
The company said the effort is part of a broader strategy to create “the world’s most flexible, multimodal delivery network,” one that goes beyond cars, bikes, and couriers to include sidewalk robots and drones. Uber also confirmed it will invest in Flytrex to help accelerate drone technology development but did not disclose the size of the investment.
Flytrex has experience in the space, having flown more than 200,000 meals to suburban households over the past three years. It is also one of only four companies authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” operations, which allow drones to travel farther than a pilot can physically see.
Uber did not reveal where the pilot markets will be or how deliveries will be carried out. The company pointed to its sidewalk robot program in Los Angeles as an example, noting that there is typically no price difference for customers whether an autonomous vehicle or human courier makes the delivery.
The announcement comes amid a series of new ventures for Uber. Earlier this year, the company launched robotic food deliveries in Los Angeles and recently said customers will soon be able to book helicopter rides through its app. Uber’s stock has gained more than 50% since January.
Drone delivery is quickly becoming more common across the food industry. DoorDash partnered with Flytrex in June to launch operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, while Chipotle is testing its own program in Dallas using drones operated by Zipline, another FAA-approved provider.
Source: CBS News