AN UBER Eats rival has introduced a new delivery service almost identical to Walmart’s.
The savvy service will see over 100,000 people get their food orders more quickly.
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DoorDash – the much-loved food delivery service, akin to Uber Eats – is partnering with firm Flytrex to offer residents in Charlotte, North Carolina and Virgina extra speedy drone deliveries.
Some 30,000 households will now be able to take advantage of the futuristic and fast delivery service that unlike cars or mopeds, don’t get caught in traffic.
Although drone deliveries are not a new concept – with customers in Little Elm and Frisco, Texas already having access to the service – Flytrex drones are gradually becoming more advanced.
The devices now hold up to 6.6 pounds, which is due to increase by two pounds in the future.
Flytrex has also implemented more advanced drone traffic control technology so that more devices can operate and serve customers at the same time.
Like air traffic controllers who manage planes’ take off and landings, air drone traffic controls are systems that regulate drone traffic.
Harrison Shih, head of product for DoorDash Labs, said the next phase of drone delivery will include “unlocking” new uses for the device.
Larger payloads and longer operating hours will help the company achieve this, he said.
In a statement he said: “The next phase of drone delivery is all about convenience, driven by expanded capabilities that unlock a broader range of use cases.
“Larger payloads and longer operating hours allow us to serve more customers, more efficiently, than ever before.
“By expanding the operational envelope of autonomous delivery, we’re moving closer to making drone delivery a scalable, reliable option for everyday local commerce.”
DoorDash’s announcement comes just weeks after Walmart revealed it will be expanding its drone delivery service to five major cities.
The option will now be available in Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Tampa, Florida.
“This rapid expansion reinforces Walmart’s leadership in tech-enabled retail, bringing the future of shopping to even more customers — right from the sky, faster than ever before,” Walmart said in a press release.
“This expansion underscores Walmart’s commitment to reshaping the future of fast and flexible retail,” read the release.
Walmart has made more than 150,000 drone deliveries since launching its service in 2021.
The company said the expansion will make shopping more convenient for shoppers as orders can be delivered in 30 minutes or less.
Walmart said its customers choose drone deliveries for “everything from groceries to health and wellness products to household essentials, all powered by drone technology.”
