Drone-based food delivery service extends its operation to Dallas-Fort Worth region round the clock
### DoorDash and Flytrex Launch Drone Delivery Service in Dallas-Fort Worth
DoorDash and Flytrex have teamed up to offer a drone delivery service in select areas of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, specifically targeting the cities of Little Elm and Frisco, Texas. This partnership marks Flytrex’s first integration with a third-party delivery app, enabling customers to place orders directly from the DoorDash app and choose drone delivery at checkout if they are within the eligible zone.
The service, which is now operational, allows customers to order food from dozens of local and national restaurants through the DoorDash app. Orders can be delivered between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. by Flytrex’s autonomous drone fleet, offering the region's most expansive drone operating hours.
Flytrex drones currently have a payload capacity of up to 6.6 pounds, the largest amount in the area. With the upcoming generation of Flytrex drones, this capacity will further increase to 8.8 pounds, making family-sized meal deliveries more feasible.
The partnership follows a pilot program with over 1,000 successful deliveries, utilizing advanced drone traffic control systems to safely manage multiple drones in overlapping communities. Neighborhoods have established drop-off points at public and communal locations throughout the coverage area.
DoorDash and Flytrex are preparing to launch the service in additional Dallas-Fort Worth neighborhoods, broadening access to drone delivery. The companies believe that the multi-modal approach, combining human couriers with autonomous options, is the winning strategy for efficient delivery.
Yariv Bash, CEO of Flytrex, states that drone delivery offers suburban families speed, affordability, and convenience. Harrison Shih, head of product at DoorDash Labs, adds that larger payloads and longer operating hours allow for serving more customers more efficiently.
The DoorDash-Flytrex collaboration represents a significant step toward mainstream adoption of drone delivery, combining the reach of a major delivery platform with specialized drone logistics. Future growth will likely hinge on regulatory approvals, technological advancements, and the ability to replicate this model in new cities and for additional product categories.
Other companies are also investing in drone delivery. Amazon plans to begin using drone delivery in Arizona later this year, while Walmart has expanded drone delivery to 5 major cities in partnership with Wing. DoorDash is also partnering with drone delivery provider Wing and sidewalk robot delivery provider Coco Robotics.
Meijer is using drone technology to donate $250K to improve Midwest waterways and beaches, demonstrating the potential for drones to contribute to various sectors beyond food delivery. As drone technology continues to evolve and regulations become more favourable, drone delivery services like the one offered by DoorDash and Flytrex are expected to become more commonplace.
In the ongoing evolution of delivery services, DoorDash and Flytrex are extending their partnership to include 'sustainable retail' options, enabling customers to purchase not just food, but also 'gadgets' and other items, thanks to the increased payload capacity of Flytrex drones. As regulatory approvals and technological advancements unfold, this 'technology'-driven drone delivery service is poised to become a standard in various cities, transforming sectors such as retail.
