Uber partners with Flytrex to delve into drone-based food delivery services
Uber, the ride-hailing giant, is making its first investment in drone delivery, partnering with Flytrex for autonomous drone delivery. This collaboration combines Flytrex's autonomous drone delivery system with Uber's global platform and logistics expertise.
According to Noah Zych, Uber's global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, the partnership aims to revolutionize local commerce by picking up and delivering goods from local stores. This includes items such as medications, parcels, groceries, and even clothing or shoes.
Ali Kashani, CEO of Serve Robotics, shares this vision. He believes that delivery robots will lower the cost of the last mile substantially, making local commerce more accessible and affordable. Kashani also envisions a future where delivery robots can handle product returns (reverse logistics), a significant aspect of modern retail.
Flytrex has already demonstrated its capabilities in this area. The organisation has authorization from the FAA to conduct "Beyond Visual Line of Sight" operations and has delivered over 200,000 meals to suburban households in the past three years.
Uber Eats customers in Austin, Dallas, and Jersey City have already experienced this first-hand. In October last year, the company announced that Uber Eats customers in these cities could receive food delivery by Avirde's sidewalk robots. Uber partnered with Avirde in 2020 for this purpose.
Uber has also previously launched robotic delivery operations in the U.S. and Japan. The new service will commence with Uber Eats pilot markets in the U.S. by the end of the year.
Kashani sees a broader role for delivery robots in local commerce. He believes they can be used not just for food delivery, but also in local commerce, such as picking up and delivering clothing or shoes. This could potentially transform the way we shop, making it more convenient and efficient.
In conclusion, the partnership between Uber and Flytrex marks a significant step towards a future where delivery robots play a pivotal role in our daily lives, making local commerce more accessible and affordable.
