Uber is working with drone maker Flytrex to start drone delivery for Uber Eats, with plans to test the drones in select markets by the end of the year.
The Flytrex partnership, Uber said, is the first investment the company has made toward offering drone delivery. Uber’s goal is to be able to deliver food and other goods via bikes, cars, couriers, sidewalk robots and aerial drones, Uber said Thursday.
Uber did not say which cities would be used for its drone delivery pilot program.
Flytrex, which operates in three towns in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration in August to operate drones beyond the line of sight — one of four drone delivery companies to receive that approval.
“Autonomous drones are the future of food delivery — fast, affordable and hands-free. Flytrex has already delivered over 200,000 meals to suburban households in the past three years. Partnering with Uber — pioneers of ground-based mobility — brings together proven logistics expertise with aerial innovation,” Flytrex Executive Chairman Noam Bardin said Thursday.
Flytrex also works on drone deliveries in the Dallas area with Uber Eats competitor DoorDash.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.