Delivery service DoorDash expands drone delivery operations across Dallas-Fort Worth area, available round-the-clock.
In a significant move for the drone delivery industry, DoorDash and Flytrex have teamed up to offer a new service in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. This partnership marks Flytrex’s first integration with a third-party delivery app, allowing customers to order food from local and national restaurants directly through the DoorDash app.
The service, which is now operational in parts of Little Elm and Frisco, covers approximately 30,000 households and 100,000 residents. The drones, operated by Flytrex, can carry up to 5.5 to 6.6 pounds of food (with potential future models carrying up to 8.8 pounds) and deliver within a five-mile roundtrip radius. The drones fly autonomously at low altitude, lowering food via tether directly to customers' backyards. Delivery hours are from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Central Time.
Harrison Shih, head of product at DoorDash Labs, stated that larger payloads and longer operating hours allow for serving more customers more efficiently. Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex, added that drone delivery offers suburban families speed, affordability, and convenience.
DoorDash is also collaborating with other drone providers, including Alphabet’s Wing, which has established services in DFW, Charlotte, and Southwest Virginia. This collaboration further illustrates the region’s role as a drone delivery hotspot in the US alongside operators like Zipline.
To ensure safety, Flytrex has implemented advanced drone traffic control technology to safely manage flight paths via automated systems. The company has also established drop-off points at public and communal locations throughout the coverage area.
This move reflects a growing trend of collaboration between major delivery platforms and drone specialists to scale up drone food deliveries in suburban areas. In addition to the DFW metroplex, Amazon plans to begin using drone delivery in Arizona later this year.
[1] https://www.doordash.com/news/doordash-and-flytrex-launch-drone-delivery-in-dfw/ [2] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/doordash-launches-drone-delivery-in-dfw-with-flytrex-301689477.html [3] https://www.wsj.com/articles/door-dash-to-offer-drone-delivery-in-dallas-fort-worth-area-11630312148 [4] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/20/door-dash-launches-drone-delivery-in-dallas-fort-worth-metroplex.html [5] https://www.businessinsider.com/door-dash-partners-with-flytrex-for-drone-delivery-in-dallas-fort-worth-2021-7
- In an effort to expand sustainable retail options, DoorDash might consider integrating technology that supports local sports merchandise delivery through drones, following the success of their food delivery partnership with Flytrex.
- As the drone delivery industry continues to evolve, it's not far-fetched to imagine a future where retail giants like Amazon use cutting-edge technology in sports equipment manufacturing, leading to efficient and eco-friendly drone deliveries in suburban areas.
