Uber Eats is set to test drone deliveries once more, this time through a new partnership with drone operator Flytrex. The collaboration aims to launch a pilot service in select US markets before the end of the year, promising customers the ability to receive orders in a matter of minutes. Flytrex brings significant experience to the venture, having been one of the operators responsible for Walmart’s drone delivery program and already conducting food deliveries in certain parts of the country. The company is also one of only four providers to receive critical authorization from the FAA for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This permission allows pilots to control aircraft without needing to see them directly, a key capability for scaling drone delivery services. The companies stated that the partnership will not only enhance delivery speed but also contribute to reducing road congestion. As part of the deepened relationship, Uber is making a financial investment in Flytrex. This capital infusion is intended to provide Flytrex with the resources needed to accelerate the deployment of its drone technology across the United States. Sarfraz Maredia, President of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber, commented on the development, saying that autonomous technology is transforming mobility and delivery faster than ever. He noted that the partnership with Flytrex represents the next chapter, bringing the speed and sustainability of drone delivery to the Uber Eats platform at scale for the first time. This new initiative appears to be more ambitious than Uber’s previous attempts at drone delivery. Back in 2018, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi discussed the potential for a drone-based food delivery service to begin by 2021. Under a project named Uber Elevate, the company conducted test deliveries with McDonald’s in 2020, though the service never saw a wide public release. Uber had also previously unveiled its own custom drone designed for vertical take-off and landing, capable of carrying meals for two people, but the status of that particular project remains unclear. This new partnership with an established operator signals a more concrete step towards making drone delivery a reality on the Uber Eats platform.
