Share
WASHINGTON — Uber is testing restaurant food deliveries by drone.
The company’s Uber Eats unit began the tests in San Diego with McDonald’s and plans to expand to other restaurants later this year.
Uber says the service should decrease food delivery times.
It works this way: Workers at a restaurant load the meal into a drone and it takes off, tracked and guided by a new aerospace management system.
The drone then meets an Uber Eats driver at a drop-off location, and the driver will hand-deliver the meal to the customer.
In the future, the company wants to land drones atop parked vehicles near delivery locations and secure them to the vehicle for the final mile of the delivery.
Last year Uber and the city of San Diego won a bid from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to test food delivery by air.
Uber Announces Teamup With Volvo
“We’ve been working closely with the FAA to ensure that we’re meeting requirements and prioritizing safety,” Luke Fischer, head of flight operations at Uber Elevate, said in a statement Wednesday.
The company said the knowledge it gains from the tests will help with Uber’s planned aerial ride-sharing network.
The ride-hailing company said it can easily install its self-driving system in the Volvo XC90 SUV. The vehicle’s steering and braking systems are designed for computer rather than human control, including several backup systems for both steering and braking functions and battery backup power. If the primary systems fail, the backup system will immediately act to bring the car to a stop.
Various sensors will allow Uber’s self-driving system to safely operate and maneuver in urban areas, the company said.
Uber and Volvo Cars partnered in September 2016. This is the third car they’ve developed together.
Uber made the announcement at its Uber Elevate Summit.
Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties
12 hours ago
Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault
13 hours ago
Canadian Police Make 3 Arrests in Sikh Separatist’s Slaying That Sparked a Spat with India
13 hours ago
Three Arrested for Trespassing, Posting Flyers at Fresno Synagogue and Church
14 hours ago
Heavy Rains Over Texas Have Led to Water Rescues, School Cancellations and Orders to Evacuate
17 hours ago
Google, Justice Department Make Final Arguments About Whether Search Engine is a Monopoly
17 hours ago
New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority