An article summarized by engadget:
DoorDash is expanding into drone delivery, with Chipotle and Popeyes among its first restaurant partners. The program, called DoorDash Air, will initially launch in Northern California. DoorDash says its six-propeller drones are designed to be relatively quiet at delivery height, and about 80% of restaurant orders on the platform are small and light enough to potentially be delivered by drone.
DoorDash says early tests have shown deliveries from restaurants to customers can take under five minutes on average. Its system will determine which orders should be delivered by drone based on factors including ground traffic, weather and flight times. The company says the drones are designed specifically for the communities where they will operate.
The company also announced several other expansions: U.S. customers will eventually be able to manage deliveries through Apple Messages, businesses will be able to connect DoorDash with internal apps and AI agents, and retailers including Macy’s, Anthropologie, The North Face, Vans and Timberland are joining its marketplace. DoorDash is also launching Dasher Returns, allowing customers to send items back for a flat $8 fee.
