Uber is trying drone delivery again

Uber is set to reintroduce drone deliveries for its Uber Eats service in select U.S. markets by the end of this year, thanks to a fresh collaboration with the Israeli startup Flytrex. This partnership not only aims to enhance delivery speeds but also includes a nominal investment from Uber in Flytrex, although the company has stated that the financial commitment is not significant. This move marks a renewed interest from Uber in technologies it once explored in-house. The company has been actively aligning with autonomous vehicle firms like Waymo to expand its offerings of self-driving rides in cities such as Atlanta. Additionally, Uber has its sights set on incorporating electric air taxis into its services in the coming years. Uber first experimented with drone delivery for food orders back in 2019, but the initiative was shelved due to regulatory hurdles. Following that, Uber sold its aviation division, dubbed “Elevate,” to the air taxi company Joby. However, as regulations surrounding new aircraft types continue to relax, companies like Zipline are paving the way for aerial deliveries to become commonplace. Interestingly, Flytrex is also a key player for Uber Eats' competitor, DoorDash, and claims to have successfully completed over 200,000 deliveries across the United States, showcasing its experience in the drone delivery sector.