Drone Delivery Launches in North Texas with DoorDash

Live in North Texas? If you frequently use DoorDash, your food orders could be delivered aerially.

DoorDash and Flytrex announced the launch of their drone delivery service in the Dallas-Fort Worth area last week. The service is already available to more than 30,000 households and 100,000 residents as it expands to new locations across Dallas-Fort Worth.

Flytrex drones can carry up to 6.6 pounds — roughly the weight of two average fast-food meals — with future models expected to handle up to 8.8 pounds, according to the company.

"Drone delivery offers suburban families exactly what they're looking for: speed, affordability, and convenience," said Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex. "Your food arrives hot or cold as intended, and you get contactless delivery right to your backyard. For busy families juggling work and activities, it's a game-changer that fits perfectly into your daily routine."

Here is where North Texans can expect these drones to deliver DoorDash orders.

What is drone delivery?

Drone delivery uses small, unmanned aircraft to transport goods — like food, groceries or retail items — directly to customers’ homes. The technology allows for fast, contactless service, often within minutes of placing an order.

The concept isn't new, however.

During the Super Bowl, a promotional partnership between PepsiCo and Wing, Alphabet’s drone delivery service, brought free snacks to Frisco, about 30 miles north of Dallas. Customers placed orders through the app, tracked their deliveries in real time and received snacks securely enclosed in a cardboard box.

The drone slowly lowered the box, which was then opened to reveal a selection of game-day treats, including Doritos, Tostitos dips and Pepsi Zero Sugar.

Where do DoorDash drones deliver in Texas?

Residents in select areas of Little Elm and Frisco can now order meals from a variety of local and national restaurants. The service has also been available in Granbury, about 25 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

The drone service is available between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., with delivery handled by Flytrex’s autonomous drone fleet.

"The next phase of drone delivery is all about convenience, driven by expanded capabilities that unlock a broader range of use cases," said Harrison Shih, Head of Product for DoorDash Labs. "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."

Will drone delivery be faster?

The FlyTrex website states that its autonomous drones can fly approximately five miles roundtrip, at about 32 miles per hour, "enabling us to reach your backyard in under five minutes."

"That’s fast enough to keep your ice cream from melting and your coffee hot," the website adds.

A similar service, Wing, operates drone deliveries across Dallas-Fort Worth in partnership with Walmart at 11 locations, including Dallas, Plano, Murphy, Richardson, Mesquite, Rowlett, The Colony, and Garland.

Wing drones can reach speeds up to 65 mph and fly as far as 12 miles round-trip. According to the company’s website, its fastest delivery — from order to drop-off — took just 2 minutes and 47 seconds.

In December, Wing expanded its reach by partnering with DoorDash to launch drone deliveries from Brookfield Properties malls, including Hulen Mall in Fort Worth and Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Will orders spill?

FlyTrex promises its deliveries will remain safe and sound.

"Our fastened delivery box guarantees your order is delivered just the way it was packed," the website states. "Using our wire release mechanism, orders are gently lowered from eighty feet – not dropped. This ensures a quiet and secure delivery. Your groceries are safe with us, whether they’re milkshakes or a dozen eggs."