The company perhaps most famous for delivering sandwiches from Jersey Mike’s and pizza from Little Caesars just crossed a milestone. Flytrex, which is a drone delivery company based in the U.S., just made its 100,000th drone delivery.
Unlike other drone delivery competitors that delivery items like medical supplies, Flytrex solely focuses on using drones to deliver food. That includes goods from grocery stores or prepared meals from restaurants. Flytrex operates in certain suburbs of both North Carolina and Texas. Little Caesars, Charleys Philly Steaks, Brinker International (which is the parent company of major chains including Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy) and Jersey Mike’s are its most notable clients.
Over at Jersey Mike’s, it seems as customers love having drone delivery as an option.
“At Jersey Mike’s Subs, we are focused on bringing our customers the best experience – and that includes delivery that is convenient for their schedules and preferences,” said Scott Scherer, Chief Information Officer at Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. in a prepared statement. “Partnering with Flytrex, our fans can enjoy our authentic, fresh sliced and fresh grilled sub sandwiches how and when they want them.”
Drone delivery specifically in the food delivery space offers a few benefits including the potential for:
Faster delivery speeds (drones don’t get stuck in traffic)
Reduced carbon emissions
Fewer road accidents
In fact, according to Cornell University research, about half of food delivery drivers in a survey said they had been in a collision while making a delivery.
Flytrex also claims it’s much faster than car deliveries. According to Flytrex data, the average Flytrex meal delivery time is just four minutes and 30 seconds. Compare that to what Flytrex states is between 8-12 minutes for a car to execute the same delivery without traffic. It’s an even heftier 15-20 minutes with traffic.
What to know about Flytrex
Flytrex first landed in the U.S. in late 20019, initially launching its wide-scale U.S. flights from Holly Springs, North Carolina. Prior to that, the Israel-based drone delivery company garnered some attention for its drone delivery operations in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Now, Flytrex operates in a few other areas of North Carolina, including Durham and Raeford. A close relationship with the North Carolina Department of Transportation has enabled Flytrex to clock in some successes. That includes in early 2023, when Flytrex scored approval to conduct drone deliveries under a Standard Part 135 Air Carrier Certification from the FAA.
Besides the decision to hone in on food deliveries, Flytrex CEO Yariv Bash has taken a fairly strong stance in a few aspects of drones. That includes early criticism of competitors who relied on drones to land for package delivery. At the time, Bash cited issues such as kids and pets getting in the way of the drone, causing unnecessary problems as it lands. These days, very few drone delivery companies land their drones — for reasons that Bash predicted.
Flytrex’s app, which enables customers to have items delivered to them via drone. (Photo courtesy of Flytrex)
How Flytrex compares to other drone delivery companies
While 100,000 meals delivered might seem like a big deal, it’s still small potatoes in the broader drone delivery world. In April 2024, Zipline (which most largely considered world’s largest drone delivery company) crossed the 1 million drone delivery milestone. Flytrex’s milestone is only a tiny fraction of that.
Zipline largely focuses on medical deliveries in developing countries. After all, it’s 1 millionth delivery entailed two bags of IV fluid. They flew from Zipline’s distribution center in Ghana’s Western North Region to a health facility nearby.
But even Zipline has leaned into fast food deliveries, including a recent partnership with fast casual salad chain Sweetgreen.
Meanwhile, Google-sibling company Wing is seriously dominating the food delivery space. That’s particularly evident in Australia, where this summer it announced an expansion to the Melbourne area. There, Wing will partner with DoorDash, which it’s already been working with elsewhere in Australia. In the U.S., Wing works closely with Walmart.
After more than five years of largely successful drone operations in the state of Queensland, Australia, Wing’s drone delivery operations are finally expanding to a different Australian state. Wing, the drone delivery arm affiliated with Google, announced in July 2024 that it is headed to the Melbourne area. That makes Wing’s first operations in Victoria, Australia.
The Wing deliveries in Victoria will be available to certain homes in the greater-Melbourne area. Given the radius upon which Wing will operate in Victoria, this will mark Wing’s largest approved delivery area in Australia to-date.
For the Melbourne deliveries, Wing will continue to partner with DoorDash. The Wing partnership with DoorDash first took off in November 2022 in Logan, Australia. Logan, a city in Queensland, has been one of the primary sites for Wing’s Australian operations thus far. Through it, eligible customers can place orders for certain, drone delivery-eligible items directly through their DoorDash apps.
The rooftop of the Grand Plaza Mall in Logan, Australia. Photo courtesy of Wing.
The new Melbourne expansion will follow a similar model of drone deliveries already happening at the Grand Plaza Mall in Logan City, Australia. It’s called a store-to-door model. With it, Wing establishes what it calls its “drone nest” with a store or shopping center. From there, drones directly depart from that store or shopping center — rather than from a separate warehouse. (Here’s a deep dive into how Wing’s deliveries from the shopping mall rooftop work.)
With its Melbourne expansion, Wing will place its first Nest at the Eastland Shopping Centre, which is located in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Ringwood, Victoria, Australia. Considered the fourth-largest shopping centre in Australia, it has more than 340 retail stores and services. The location will unlock drone delivery access to more than 250,000 Melbourne-area residents.
That large of an area — and that many potential customers — means more reliance on autonomy. In turn, that means less reliance on humans. Wing says its Melbourne operations will have a 50-1 drone to pilot ratio, meaning a single pilot to oversee up to 50 drones in the air at any given time. That’s a 3x increase over Wing’s prior drone delivery approvals.
Wing drones outside of a Walmart store. (Photo courtesy of Wing)
In a July 2024 statement, Wing called 2024 “the year of drone delivery.” And it very well may be.
Other recent Wing drone delivery expansions this month have included a partnership between Wing, Apian, Blackrock Health, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, Medtronic. With that, those companies are working on a drone delivery trial of all sorts of medical supplies and devices to hospitals around Dublin. Though, that one is a fairly small test, with only about an estimated 100 flights weekly.
And over in the U.S., Wing is also growing. Following news that Walmart would integrate drone delivery directly into its own Walmart app, Wing has officially launched service from two Texas Walmart locations (stores in Arlington and Fort Worth). With that, Wing and Walmart now offer drone delivery from six locations to homes in more than a dozen localities across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Early this year, Wing also brought that DoorDash partnership that first kicked off in Australia over to Christiansburg, Virginia. With that, eligible residents who order specifically from Wendy’s via DoorDash can opt to get a Frosty, Baconator or other Wendy’s order delivered via drone.
Of course, Wing isn’t the only company growing its drone delivery offerings this year. Also this month, we got critical deals about a planned Amazon drone delivery offering in Arizona’s Phoenix metro area. Amazon is also currently working on efforts to expand its existing College Station, Texas drone deliveries.
The DroneUp Ecosystem. (Photo courtesy of DroneUp)
And even smaller players are innovating big. For example, DroneUp pioneered a compelling new Ecosystem platform in 2024. That platform involves standalone units (about the size of two parking spaces) serving as mini package takeoff and delivery centers. DroneUp can place these basically anywhere throughout a city. From there, where customers can pick up their drone-delivered packages without actually touching the drone itself.
Amazon is working on launching a drone delivery service in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area. And this week, new details have emerged as to what exactly this Arizona Amazon drone delivery service will entail.
On July 10, the Federal Aviation Administration released a draft environmental assessment for Amazon Prime Air’s proposed drone delivery operations in Tolleson, Arizona. With it comes critical details around how big this operation might actually be.
Under the proposal for Arizona Amazon drone deliveries, Amazon would launch commercial drone package deliveries out of a new Prime Air Drone Delivery Center (PADDC) in Tolleson, Arizona. That drone delivery center sits on the same property as another existing Amazon warehouse.
This first-of-its-kind PADDC would mark a departure from the way Amazon currently operates its other deliveries out of College Station, Texas. The PADDC is a hybrid fufillment center and delivery station. The benefit? Amazon employees can fulfill, sort and deliver products all from one site. In theory, that reduces delivery times.
Speaking of faster delivery times, Amazon plans to run its Arizona drone deliveries to both neighboring homes and commercial facilities. And homes aren’t far away. After all, the nearest residential neighborhood is just 1,300 feet west of Amazon’s delivery center. To be eligible for home deliveries, customers typically have to have some sort of yard, either in their own single-family residence or in certain apartment buildings.
Delivery won’t be 24/7, but it will be during most waking hours — even when it’s dark out. Amazon’s proposal accounts for drone operations between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Amazon anticipates making up to 469 delivery flights per day. That means it could potentially execute more than 170,000 drone delivery flights to customers over the course of a year. Though, realistically expect fewer flights than that given factors such as weather (drones will only fly on clear days), customer demand and potential for other technical hiccups.
What drone does Amazon use for its deliveries?
Image courtesy of Amazon
The drone actually conducting the deliveries in Phoenix? That’s Amazon’s MK30 drone.
Here are some other key Amazon MK30 drone specs:
Maximum takeoff weight: 83.2 pounds (though they only actually carry packages up to five pounds)
Capable of flying in light rain (though only flies during clear weather)
Vertical take-off to get off the ground, then transitions into horizontal, wing-borne flight
Electric powered
Includes sense and avoid tech
Quieter than past Amazon drone models via custom-designed propellers (reduces perceived noise by almost half)
Can fly further than past Amazon drone models (increases distance by almost double)
First revealed to the public in fall 2023
Image courtesy of Amazon
Specific to these Arizona Amazon drone operations, the Mk30 would fly in a proposed operating range of 7.5 miles from the warehouse, which makes for a potential operating area of up to 174 square miles.
What’s next for Arizona Amazon drone deliveries?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which was signed into law on January 1, 1970, requires that the FAA consider environmental factors in its decision whether to approve Arizona Amazon drone deliveries.
Given that, the FAA has opened a public comment period. With it, the FAA is soliciting public feedback. To share your feedback, submit your comments via email by Aug. 11, 2024 and include “Prime Air Tolleson Draft EA” in the subject line.
Besides getting FAA approvals, Amazon is also working with local officials in Tolleson. It plans to have its service running by the end of 2024.
Amazon drone deliveries in California and Texas
While Amazon awaits FAA approval for its Arizona Amazon drone delivery program, Amazon drone delivery already operates in a couple of locations in the United States. As of July 2024, Prime Air drone delivery is currently up and running in College Station, Texas. It’s also conducted somewhat extensive testing in Lockeford, California. For eligible College Station customers who also are purchasing drone delivery-eligible items (and yes, even certain prescriptions are eligible for Amazon drone delivery), the actual deliveries are free.
In those cities, delivery windows are much more restricted than the Arizona proposal. Amazon drone deliveries in Texas typically run during limited daylight hours only, pending weather. As of July 2024, deliveries only are available between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Night deliveries and operations during heavy winds are not yet available.
Expanding Texas operations
That said, Amazon has been on a quest to expand its existing operating hours. In a separate proposal submitted under the National Environmental Policy Act, Amazon seeks approval to expand its College Station, Texas drone deliveries. College Station is about 80 miles away from both Houston and Austin, and is home to Texas A&M University.
Amazon’s Texas expansion plans mean getting bigger both in terms of distance and operating times. That’s due in large part to the ability to add Amazon’s new MK 30 drone to its fleet. Currently, Amazon uses the MK27-2 drone in Texas.
Their proposal would expand the College Station operating area beyond the current 3.7-mile radius. If approved, Amazon’s operating area in Texas would grow from 43.7 square miles to 174 square miles.
Also in Texas, Amazon is seeking to expand its flight times from the current daylight-only hours to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (as proposed in Arizona). That would increase Amazon’s current maximum in College Station of about 200 operations per day to an estimated 470 drone flights per day. That would result in going from an estimated 52,000 flights per year in Texas to an estimated 171,329 flights per year.
Much like with Arizona, those expansion plans are contingent upon NEPA review. The public comment period for the Prime Air College Station draft environmental assessment closed on July 12.
Texas in general is a big spot for drone delivery test projects. For example, Wing, which is the drone-focused sibling company of Google, conducts drone deliveries primarily with Walmart in Frisco, Texas which is a city near Dallas.
Of course, expanded Texas operations — plus a new project in Arizona — is hardly all for Amazon, which is the world’s largest retailer outside of China. Though it didn’t specify where, Amazon says it intends to open further U.S. locations in 2025.
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Here’s yet another sign that Walmart is increasingly committed to drone delivery. While Walmart has been offering drone delivery as a service at a handful of its stores (primarily in Texas), it wasn’t always the most intuitive for customers. A big Walmart app update changes that.
Up until recently, Walmart shoppers who wanted their orders brought to them via drone had to place their order through a separate app. Walmart partners with a few different drone delivery companies, including DroneUp, Flytrex and Zipline. Things really leveled up in August 2023 when Walmart added Wing as a drone delivery provider.
But for a customer ordering Walmart products, they’d have to place their order through the app of the drone delivery company — despite the fact that goods ordered for pickup or car delivery would have to be placed in the Walmart app.
But as of June 2024, Walmart is rolling out steps to transition its customers to order directly from the Walmart app. It’s happening in a phased approach, so for now only a few stores offer drone delivery as an available service directly in the Walmart app. When it rolls out fully though, it should remove the friction for shoppers who’d otherwise have to download and log in to an entirely separate app just to particpate in drone delivery.
“We are enhancing the customer experience and making the process more streamlined by integrating it into the Walmart app where our customers are already going for their other shopping needs,” according to Walmart spokesperson Lindsey Coulter. “Customers can open the Walmart app, see what items are eligible for drone delivery, build their baskets and checkout – all with just a few simple clicks.”
Beyond a more streamlined experience, the integration also expands the catalog of goods that can be delivered.
How ordering through the Walmart app works
Customers who currently use one of Walmart’s drone delivery partners and order through their respective apps will receive a notification of the new ordering capability through the Walmart app once it’s made available. (Eligibility is based on the customer address associated with the account).
Just like with the Wing app, will be able to see where their order is and keep up-to-date on its arrival time, in real-time.
Though the ability to order drone delivery directly through the Walmart app will take off in June 2024, Walmart emphasizes it’ll be done in phases.
“Creating a more seamless shopping experience on the Walmart app is the next evolution of Walmart’s investment in drone delivery technology, further reaffirming its unwavering commitment to finding innovative experiences and delivery solutions for customers,” according to a news release from Walmart.
Walmart’s drone delivery service: how it’s been going
Walmart runs deliveries in more than a half-dozen states in the U.S., including Arkansas (which is the home state for Walmart headquarters) and Texas. Texas has been among the biggest drivers of growth for Walmart drone delivery. In fact, roughly 75% of the Dallas Fort Worth population is now eligible for drone delivery.
For example, as of June 2024, Wing (the sibling company of Google) powers drone delivery out of the following stores:
9101 N Tarrant Pkwy, North Richland Hills, TX
6401 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, TX
801 W Main St, Lewisville, TX
8555 Preston Rd, Frisco, TX
Walmart has had fun with the drone delivery project, as evidenced by a goofy, albeit delightful social media stunt in August 2023. That’s when Walmart dunked a giant Oreo cookie into milk via drone.
Fun fact : We’ve made 10,000 drone deliveries!
Fun fact : @OREO was our top item delivered by drones.
Fun fact : We went on a mission to make our most epic drone delivery yet: THE DUNK. pic.twitter.com/lxAl0e57BC
So far, drone delivery has been good for Walmart and its customers — so the company says.
“The communities have been very receptive to adopting drone deliveries and we’re confident that enthusiasm will continue as we enhance the customer experience,” Coulter said.
And the numbers back it up. Since Walmart began trialing drone delivery in 2021, Walmart and its drone delivery partners have made a combined 30,000+ drone deliveries to date.
Zipline, which is generally considered the world leader in drone deliveries, has achieved a historic milestone: completing one million commercial drone deliveries to customers.
It’s a huge leap for the drone delivery space, especially when you account for the company’s exponential growth in achieving the milestone. About 70% of those one million deliveries were executed in the last two years alone.
Check out this graphic showing Zipline’s commercial drone deliveries over time:
Graphic courtesy of Zipline
And how’s this for a wild fact: one million drone deliveries equates to more than 70 million miles flown. Those flights have spanned four continents and have delivered more than 10 million products.
Zipline has done so many flights across all its aircraft that it’s clocked more than 1 million flight hours. Yes, that’s the equivalent of about a single aircraft flying non-stop for 120 years straight.
Zipline is hardly stopping with one million though — and that exponential growth only looks set to grow. That’s because Zipline used today’s hoopla to also announce fresh partnerships. Soon, Zipline will use its Platform 2 system to deliver Panera Bread orders in the greater Seattle area, medical supplies from the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, and Jet’s Pizza in the Detroit metro area.
The P2 system launched in March 2023 as a way to make operations faster, more precise and more efficient. The unique deliver design costs of what’s basically a two-part drone: the primary aircraft for long-distance travel and a detachable “delivery droid.” With it, the primary drone carries the droid to a designated landing zone near the delivery location. From there, the droid detaches from the primary drone, lowers itself via a tether, and gently deposits the package at the customer’s doorstep.
Here’s what to expect from each of those companies:
Panera Bread: Flynn Group, a major Panera Bread franchise operator, will leverage Zipline for deliveries in the Seattle area. Panera customers will place orders for Zipline delivery directly through Zipline’s app, upon which the drones will deliver to eligible homes.
Memorial Hermann Health System: This Texas-based not-for-profit health systems will use Zipline to deliver specialty prescriptions and medical devices directly to patients’ homes, as well as to transport medicine, medical products, and lab samples between its facilities. The service comes at no added cost to the patients.
Jet’s Pizza: The Detroit-based pizza chain will use Zipline to customers in Detroit. Each Zipline P2 drone is capable of delivering two large Detroit-style pizzas along with sides.
(Photo courtesy of Zipline)
It’s perhaps unsurprising that Zipline beat out drone delivery competitors such as Wing in reaching the million delivery milestone. Zipline boasts a remarkable delivery frequency of one drone delivery every 70 seconds. It also holds records for the longest autonomous drone deliveries in the U.S. (without visual observers) and the world.
For now, Zipline has put together a fun little video celebrating its one million deliveries:
As drone delivery becomes more prevalent in the United States, some of your favorite restaurants are joining the trend. Among the biggest names? Wendy’s, which announced this month that it was teaming up with delivery giant DoorDash and Google-sibling drone delivery provider Wing.
Now, residents of Christiansburg, Virginia can get Wendy’s Frosties via drone. But that’s not the only sort of fast food options that drones are flying through the skies. On the healthier end, California-based restaurant Mendocino Farms announced a partnership with Zipline in 2023 to deliver its gourmet sandwiches and salads to customers via drone.
So why are restaurants like Wendy’s or Mendocino looking to drone delivery companies? For starters, off-premise business for restaurants has been growing since the pandemic — and drones can bring that food off-premises.
Another reason is sustainability. Drones offer up to 94% lower energy consumption per package than other vehicles, providing a greener alternative for companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
Lastly, it’s pure publicity. People probably aren’t posting a video on social media of their food being delivered in a car, but they certainly might if it’s being delivered by a drone.
While Mendocino Farms’ drone delivery service isn’t expected to begin until 2025 there’s no shortage of other restaurants that have already partnered with drone delivery services like Zipline, Flytrex, Wing, and Droneup — and many of them offer drone deliveries today.
These 10 popular restaurants have embraced this futuristic delivery method. From healthy salads to indulgent cupcakes, there’s something for everyone:
1. Sweetgreen
Cities served: Various locations in California
Service provider: Zipline
For health-conscious diners, Sweetgreen’s partnership with Zipline is a game changer. Soon, you’ll be able to get your favorite nutritious bowls delivered swiftly from the sky. Sweetgreen is partnering with Zipline for the purposes of sustainability. Sweetgreen has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2027.
2. Chick-fil-A
Cities served: Granbury, Texas, various suburbs in NC, Brandon, FL and others
Service provider: Flytrex & DroneUp
If you are anything like me, you have spent a considerable amount of time waiting in the Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru line. You can skip the line for your chicken sandwich and Chick-fil-A sauce and have it drone delivered right to your door. Lucky for residents in Texas, North Carolina, and Florida, Chick-fil-A partners with not one, but two different drone delivery services.
3. Brugh Coffee Co
Cities served: Christiansburg, Virginia
Service provider: Wing
I don’t want to go anywhere before I have my morning coffee. So, why not get the coffee delivered by drone? No human interaction is needed. Brugh Coffee was one of the first coffee providers to send a cup of coffee via drone to a customer. Brugh Coffee partners with Wing, a drone delivery company owned by Google parent company Alphabet, to deliver their coffee.
4. Chili’s
Cities served: Granbury, Texas, and various suburbs in NC
Service provider: Flytrex
Chili’s diverse menu of American cuisine is now available for drone delivery. Flytrex makes it possible to enjoy Chili’s classics from the comfort of your home. The drone delievery company focuses its delivery in the US suburbs. Flytrex has proven convenient for those working from home. Just ask Mike Shanklin, who gets drone delivery 3-4x a week.
5. Sugar Magnolia
Cities served: Christiansburg, Virginia
Service provider: Wing
For those in Christiansburg, Virginia, Sugar Magnolia’s delightful baked goods and sweets are just a drone away with Wing’s innovative delivery service. Sugar Magnolia was part of the original partnership when Wing opened up in Christiansburg, Virginia, along with FedEx and Walgreens. Sugar Magnolia had only been open for 15 months when they began their partnership.
Photo courtesy of Zipline
6. Pagliacci Pizza
Cities served: Various locations in Seattle
Service provider: Zipline
Bring a little excitement to Friday pizza night via Pagliacci Pizza, which offers drone delivery through Zipline. Pagliacci Pizza says drones are more sustainable and help alleviate drive times during peak hours. Zipline designed a special box that fits two 13-inch pizzas, a salad, and a couple of sodas.
7. Gran Rodeo Mexican Restaurant
Cities served: Christiansburg, Virginia
Service provider: Wing
Authentic Mexican cuisine from Gran Rodeo Mexican Restaurant is delivered by drones in Virginia, with burritos ranking among the most popular orders. Gran Rodeo Mexican Restaurant was one of the first ‘hot food’ places to partner with Wing, due to its location. It is located right next to Wing’s headquarters, so employees are able to walk the food over to the hub to be delivered.
8. Jersey Mike’s
Cities served: Granbury, Texas, and various suburbs in NC
Service provider: Flytrex
Jersey Mike’s famous subs are a drone flight away in North Carolina. Jersey Mike’s Subs was one of Flytrex’s national chain partnerships. Customers in the service area can now order to front and backyards, with a flight time of just five minutes.
9. Gigi’s Cupcakes
Cities served: Christiansburg, Virginia
Service provider: Wing
Satisfy your sweet tooth with Gigi’s Cupcakes, available for drone delivery through Wing. You can order Gigi’s Cupcakes and other restaurants through Wing’s delivery app, just like you would for UberEats.
Photo courtesy of Wendy’s
10. Wendy’s
Cities served: Christiansburg, Virginia
Service provider: Wing
Wendy’s is a newcomer on the list, having joined forces with Wing in March 2024 as the first restaurant to participate in Wing’s U.S. partnership with DoorDash. Alas, you can finally get that Frosty or juicy Baconator delivered by a drone. Read more about Wendy’s drone delivery here.
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Drone delivery in 2024 is hardly anything like the vision Jeff Bezos gave the world when he promised drone delivery on national TV back in 2013. A big reason? Lack of scalability. But a slew of major changes by drone delivery companies marks a clear sign in addressing how to improve the scalability of drone delivery operations. Among the latest? The new autonomous Ecosystem technology, created by DroneUp.
Photo courtesy of DroneUp
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, DroneUp has been one of the smaller players in the American drone delivery space — albeit still a mighty player. Among its biggest clients? Walmart, which invested in DroneUp back in 2021.
And today, DroneUp revealed its new Ecosystem platform, which marks a huge shift in the way the company deliveries packages from retailers and restaurants. The focus of Ecosystem is scalability and affordability.
In short, Ecosystem is a series of centralized operations stations spread throughout an area. Each of those operations stations is autonomous in itself, so the only task at hands for humans is having the client drop off the actual package at the station — and customers subsequently picking up their package at another station once the drone has flown between the two.
It’s a huge departure from models at competitors like Wing or Zipline that emphasize drones flying directly to suburban, single-family residences.
DroneUp says the delivery model should bring down the costs of drone delivery.
“Retailers and quick service restaurants want us to have a clear glide path that brings the cost of drone delivery lower than currently being offered by human-based delivery while maintaining high safety and dependability levels,” said Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp. “With our autonomous ecosystem, we are able to meet those customer demands and provide a solution capable of doing millions of deliveries every day.”
Here’s a deeper dive into how the new DroneUp Ecosystem works:
Inside the DroneUp Ecosystem
The most obvious departure from traditional drone delivery systems that you’ll see in the DroneUp Ecosystem? That huge ground station unit. Consider it a sort of airport for drone deliveries.
DroneUp calls it a Destination Box (DBX). These temperature-controlled units can stand on their own, and function as one of the centralized loading points that could be placed throughout a community. The units are large enough to hold up to 30 packages at a time, depending on their size.
Photo courtesy of DroneUp
A net sits on top of the box unit, where the drone lands.
The DBXs are vendor-agnostic. So in theory, Walmart could load a package of consumer goods in the same DBX that a local hospital loads medical products into. And it seems as though they’d be placed in relatively communal areas, just as mailboxes are. In a courtesy photo provided by DroneUp, the DBX sits in a large parking lot over two parking spaces.
Photo courtesy of DroneUp
Of course, the DBX machines go two ways, meaning that consumers could also head to one to pickup a package, similar to the Amazon Locker model. Amazon Lockers are useful for people who can’t receive packages at home. That includes someone in a multi-unit building with low security, or someone in a home who just doesn’t want packages stolen off their porch. With Amazon Lockers, people can retrieve packages at the Locker locations, (like some Whole Foods stores) through a self-service model. This is a similar system.
And that’s not all the DBX can do. They also incorporate drone charging capabilities to extend the reach of each delivery and eliminate the need for battery swaps.
Other fresh DroneUp product launches
Photo courtesy of DroneUp
The new DBX is the most notable launch, but DroneUp has been working on some other products.
For starters, DroneUp gave its actual drones an overhaul. That includes new delivery mechanisms and interfaces to operate with the ground infrastructure. The delivery mechanism at hand is a claw-like package grasper that can perform aerial drops or winch up to 120 ft.
The drone also has a neat, internal package storage system to protect goods from rain, snow and even too-much sun. Engineers also worked to reduce the drone’s noise, while allowing the drones to carry larger, heavier boxes than before.
DroneUp’s drones can fly up to 60 mph over a range of 30-miles, meaning a drone in theory could fly as far out as 15 miles from the nearest DBX. That’s a surprisingly wide range, considering San Francisco is roughly 7 miles wide and 7 miles long. In theory, a drone with that sort of range and distance capabilities woud be able to do laps around a city like San Francisco in size.
Then, there’s the software. DroneUp launched a new operation system that incorporates flight control, navigation, airspace management, logistics management and safety-enhancing tools. That includes ‘detect-and-avoid’ technology. The system is automated enough that a single person can monitor many drones.
Together, those products comprise a patented, proprietary technology platform.
Is this the Drone Delivery 2.0 era?
Wing’s Autoloader
The drone delivery landscape has experienced a growth spurt over the past year. This time last year, Wing (the sister company of Google) launched a system called the Wing Delivery Network. The decentralized, automated system better supports high-volume drone delivery, largely thanks to a new piece of harder called Autoloader.
Similarly to DroneUp’s DBX, Autoloader sits outside in a parking space. The person delivering the package loads it into the Autoloader. From there, the Wing Delivery Network ‘talks’ to a drone, telling it to fly over and retrieve a package, and from there the drone delivers it to a customer (typically their own home).
Part of Zipline’s new P2 system
Shortly after, Zipline launched its P2 system, which is a two-part drone: the primary aircraft for long-distance travel and a detachable “delivery droid.”
Here’s how it works: The primary drone carries the droid to a designated landing zone near the delivery location. The droid then detaches, lowers itself via a tether, and gently deposits the package at the customer’s doorstep.
Whether the Zipline P2, Wing Autoloader or the new DroneUp Ecosystem, all represent a significant sign of growth for the drone delivery industry. In a sign of maturity, these drone delivery companies are tailoring solutions to address specific needs.
But will these new solutions be enough to make drone delivery truly succeed?
The DroneUp Ecosystem: will it work?
Photo courtesy of DroneUp
The world’s biggest drone delivery company, Zipline, and its number two competitor, Wing, seem to be all about direct home delivery. And while direct home delivery may offer the ultimate convenience and speed, safety concerns, payload limitations and the sheer matter of finding a suitable drop point can make it a complex challenge. Centralized stations like the DroneUp Ecosystem might provide a more feasible near-term solution, with lower infrastructure costs.
Here are a few reasons why a centralized station delivery model is great:
Feasibility: Delivering to designated zones reduces the complexity of individual rooftop/porch/backyard landings.
Efficiency: Centralized stations that serve as launch and recovery points may improve maintenance efficiency.
Lower infrastructure costs: There’s no need to equip every home with a landing zone. Companies would focus investment on stations strategically placed throughout neighborhoods.
Fewer privacy concerns: The constant buzz of drones overhead could be unsettling for some. Additionally, ensuring secure drop-off locations within customer yards might require creative solutions. A centralized delivery point could be positioned away from anti-drone neighbors.
But, it could bring some fresh challenges, including:
Slower delivery: The “last mile” delivery from the station would require additional vehicles or personnel, adding time compared to direct home delivery via drone.
Increased complexity: Managing a network of stations and coordinating deliveries adds logistical complexity if providers need to now add a human driver, biker or walker to go the final mile, especially compared to a purely drone-based system.
Photo courtesy of DroneUp
The DroneUp Ecosystem is set to launch sometime later in 2024. At launch, it’ll only be available to elected partners as part of its Early Partners Program.
Though, DroneUp does seem open to adding new partnerships and potentially even offering live demos. The company told The Drone Girl that you can call 877-601-1860 for partnership inquiries.
Calling all Frosties fans and drone delivery dreamers: Wing, the drone delivery outfit under Alphabet (Google’s parent company), has officially brought its DoorDash partnership to the U.S. And it comes another iconic partnership — this one with fast food chain Wendy’s. Alas, you can finally get that juicy Baconator delivered by a drone.
Photo courtesy of Wing
This news follows Wing’s year-long drone delivery partnership with DoorDash in Australia. That partnership was announced back in March 2023, where drone delivery giant would work with Wing in Logan, Australia to bring good orders to customers. That marked the first time Wing allowed its food to be ordered through a third-party app — in this case, DoorDash’s app.
Now, residents of Christiansburg, Virginia, will be the first in the U.S. to experience drone-delivered Wendy’s.
Photo courtesy of Wing
Why Christiansburg?
While this is the first time DoorDash will offer drone delivery in Christiansburg, residents of Christiansburg should be used to drone deliveries at this point. Wing launched its first U.S. commercial operations in Christiansburg back in 2019.
“The community has been an integral part of drone delivery’s progress ever since, making it a fitting place to kick off the U.S. expansion of our DoorDash partnership,” according to a statement from Wing.
Among those residents? 84-year-old Susie Sensmeier. It’s believed that she holds the orders for most drone delivery orders placed ever. Within four years, she had made 1,200 drone deliveries, including 210 blueberry muffins from a local bakery and 93 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies from a local chapter.
Now, folks like Sensmeier will have the chance to order Wendy’s, too. Starting with service from one Wendy’s restaurant, Christiansburg customers will see an option in the DoorDash app to have their Wendy’s favorites delivered by drone.
Photo courtesy of Wing
What to know when ordering Wendy’s from DoorDash via drone
While details are still under wraps, here’s what we know:
You’ll need the DoorDash app: Just like in Australia, you’ll be able to order Wendy’s fare through the DoorDash app. Select “drone delivery” at checkout for eligible items, and voila! Your lunch takes flight.
It’ll start with one restaurant: For now, only one Wendy’s location in the city will offer drone delivery. There are a few outposts, so more might be added.
Service is speedy: Wing promises delivery in 30 minutes or less, which is basically the time it takes to debate between fries and onion rings. Wing even claims its fastest-ever delivery took just under three minutes.
Drones come to your home: After flying from Wendy’s at speeds as high as 65 mph, drones will fly over properties of eligible homes. from there, they’ll hover and gently lower orders right outside doorsteps using a tether.
Here’s a screen grab of what your app will look like when ordering to an eligible address from Wendy’s on DoorDash.
And if you’d rather have your DoorDash delivered the standard way (that’s by human) you can still select that option.
Want to learn more? Wing put out a promotional video showing the Wendy’s drone deliveries in action here:
Never tried DoorDash before? Use this link to get $5 off your first DoorDash order. That’s whether you order Wendy’s in Christiansburg via drone, or just go for any other standard DoorDash order anywhere else in the U.S.
Most drones keep getting smaller. But today, Wing announced a new drone that’s actually bigger.
Just as an SUV can carry more people and stuff than a little golf cart, bigger drones can carry more stuff, which is critical in Wing’s mission to be a leader in drone deliveries. Until now, Wing’s existing fleet of commercially operational aircrafts have been able to carry about 2.5 pounds worth of payload. This newest addition is basically twice as powerful, capable of carrying a standard cardboard delivery box with a payload up to five pounds.
That’s all without having to sacrifice distance traveled or flight speeds. Like the existing aircraft in Wing’s fleet, this new aircraft has the same round-trip range of 12 miles and can fly at approximately 65 miles per hour.
“We’re introducing an additional aircraft into our fleet that will simplify and streamline larger orders,” wrote Wing CEO Adam Woodworth in a blog post about the news.
If you live in one of the areas where Wing operates (which for the U.S. primarily means Texas’s Dallas-Forth worth area), expect to see the new aircraft flying within the next 12 months.
What is Wing?
Wing is the drone delivery subsidiary of Alphabet, which also owns Google. Wing is largely considered the world’s second-largest drone delivery company behind Zipline. Both are based in California’s Silicon Valley, but the two have take largely difference approaches.
Whereas Zipline largely focuses on deliveries of medical products to rural parts of developing countries mostly in Africa. Wing focuses mostly on delivery of consumer products. It’s drones tote Walgreens drugstore items, gifts and sweet treats from Sugar Magnolia, to-go food from DoorDash, among others to people’s homes, in a few select areas around the U.S., Australia and soon, Ireland.
The two companies have seen their paths converge as of late though thanks to retail giant Walmart. In 2021, Walmart tapped Zipline to help it make drone deliveries. But then in August 2023, Walmart partnered with Wing too (while keeping Zipline onboard still). In early January 2024, Walmart made it clear it was expanding its drone presence further. Zipline and Wing together have thus far enabled Walmart to reach more than 60,000 homes in the Dallas – Fort Worth area by drone delivery. But with big expansion plans in the works (and fueled by Wing’s new large drone), it is set to expand service to millions of customers in 2024. In fact, at CES 2024 Walmart announced its lofty goal of using both Wing and Zipline with a goal to serve 75% of the region’s population.
The DJI FlyCart 30 launched in China last summer. And finally, the DJI delivery drone is available to customers potentially worldwide.
The Chinese-based drone maker announced on Jan. 10 that the drone would now go on sale to the global market. But with the announcement came just as many questions as answers. It’s unclear how much the DJI delivery drone will cost. It’s also unclear which exact countries it’ll be available in.
Products are subject to all sorts of regulatory approvals by country, and of course drones are no exception. It’ll be intriguing to see which countries allow DJI’s massive deliver drone to fly — and it’s definitely not a guarantee that the U.S. will be one of them.
As far as cost, we do have a clue. When the drone went on sale last August in China, it was sold in a package for about $17,000. That included the drone itself, as well as the RC Plus remote controller, two Intelligent Flight Batteries, and a charging hub and cables.
But DJI is certainly hoping customers worldwide jump on it.
“We are optimistic that FlyCart 30 will become a trusted solution for aerial delivery, solving complex terrain and terminal transportation problems efficiently, economically, and most importantly, safely from the air,” said Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at DJI.
What to know about the DJI delivery drone
We broke down the DJI FlyCart 30 delivery drone when it debuted in August 2023, but we’ll save you a click and share some key details about the DJI delivery drone on this same page.
Payload capacity: The DI delivery drone can carry cargo weighing up to 30kg (66lbs).
Max travel distance: This can fly up to 16km (10 miles).
Weather resistance: FC30 is designed for all weather and terrains. It has IP55 protection, can operate in temperatures ranging from -4° to 122° F. It can fly in winds up to 12 m/s.
Safety features: There are a few here. Some highlights include:
Dual active phased array radar and binocular vision systems, which enable all-weather multidirectional intelligent obstacle sensing, day or night.
A built-in ADS-B signal receiver, to warn of nearby crewed aircraft.
A built-in parachute
Other key features of this DJI delivery drone include:
DJI DeliveryHub and other flight management software
Along with the drone, DJI also offers corresponding software called DJI DeliveryHub. Considered a one-stop air delivery management platform, it’s designed to make the lives easier for folks conducting the actual deliveries through more efficient operation planning, operation status monitoring, centralized team resource management, and data collection and analysis.
The actual drone piloting is done through DJI Pilot 2, should you opt for manual flight. That software displays all sorts of information including real-time flight status and cargo status. In instances of extreme weather or other abnormalities, DJI Pilot 2 serves as your first alert system (and can help find you a safer place to land).
What are the other delivery drones?
The biggest players in drone delivery like Wing and Zipline use their own, in-house custom delivery drones. With Zipline, thats called the Platform 2 system, which is a drone plus a secondary Zipline droid in a loader. Google-sister company Wing builds a custom drone designed to work with its Autoloader, which makes it easy to latch packages to the company’s eVTOL style drones. Neither of those two company’s drones are for sale to the general public.
Delivery drones are still very much a hot topic. Walmart used a huge chunk of the airtime during its CES 2024 keynote to gush about its drone delivery efforts — which are being done in partnership with both Zipline and Wing. Walmart can reach roughly 60,000 homes in the Dallas – Fort Worth area by drone delivery at present. But just this week, it shared ambitious plans to expand service to millions of customers in 2024 — all summing up to a goal to serve 75% of the region’s population.
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