DoorDash Launches Drone Delivery Pilot Program in the United States

DoorDash Expands Drone Delivery Pilot to the U.S. with Wing Partnership

Bringing Drone Deliveries to Christiansburg, Virginia

On Thursday, DoorDash announced the expansion of its partnership with Alphabet’s Wing to introduce a drone delivery pilot in the United States. The pilot will allow select users in Christiansburg, Virginia, to order eligible menu items from their local Wendy’s and have them delivered via drone within 30 minutes.

How the Drone Delivery Option Works

DoorDash users near the Wendy’s at 2355 N. Franklin Street will see the drone delivery option on the checkout page. To ensure a successful drone delivery, the address must have a small clearing on the property, approximately two-meters in diameter, for the delivery to be set down. A driveway free of obstacles like trees or protrusive objects makes for an ideal delivery landing pad.

Image Credits: DoorDash

Eligible Items and Delivery Logistics

Most of Wendy’s menu items will be eligible for drone delivery, with some exceptions due to volume and weight restrictions. If an order contains more than what a single drone can carry, DoorDash will deploy up to three drones to complete the delivery. Orders requiring more than three drones will be delivered traditionally by a delivery person.

Expanding the Pilot Program

The launch of the U.S. pilot follows DoorDash’s successful drone delivery pilot program in Australia, which began in 2022 and now operates with over 60 merchants. Alphabet has been conducting small-scale deliveries in Christiansburg since 2019, and DoorDash plans to bring the pilot to other U.S. cities later this year.

“We’re optimistic about the value drone delivery will bring to our platform as we work to offer more efficient, sustainable, and convenient delivery options for consumers,” said Harrison Shih, Senior Director of DoorDash Labs, in a press release.

Wing’s Partnerships and Delivery Milestones

Wing has established partnerships with other companies in the U.S., including Walmart and Walgreens. To date, the company has completed over 350,000 deliveries across three countries, showcasing the growing potential of drone delivery services.