Drone delivery of food will begin in Melbourne as part of a partnership between DoorDash and Wing, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet.
The drones will transport small orders from a variety of outlets in Eastland Shopping Centre, one of the largest shopping centres in Australia. The delivery is expected to take 15 minutes or less—faster than traditional car delivery.
A DoorDash spokesperson told the Epoch Times that Wing’s drones are designed to deliver packages safely, reliably, and quickly.
“Once a customer submits an order, the package is loaded onto the Wing drone, climbs to flying altitude and proceeds to the designated delivery destination at a speed of more than 110 km per hour,” the spokesperson said.
“The drone does not land and there is no need to unclip or assist with the delivery of the package. The drone then climbs back to cruise height and returns to the delivery facility.”
Customers will be able to access the service by clicking the drone icon on the DoorDash app and ordering from retailers who have opted into Wing’s service. These include Gelatissimo, Schnitz, Sushi Hub, and more than 20 others.
Upon arriving at the customer’s destination, the drone slows down, descends to a delivery height of about seven metres above ground, hovers, and lowers the package to the ground on a tether. DoorDash explained that this automatically releases the package in the desired delivery area.
DoorDash and Wing first formed a partnership in late 2022 to create commercially scaled drone development.
“Since first announcing our partnership, we’ve continued to expand the pilot into new locations—including additional suburbs in South East Queensland where Wing operates, and now into Victoria for the first time, with the launch at Eastland Shopping Centre in Ringwood,” DoorDash said.
The new service will cover 26 suburbs in Melbourne’s East, including Ringwood, Mitcham, Nunawading, Donvale, and Boronia.
‘Efficient’ Delivery: Wing
Regarding the move, Wing said drone delivery in the Maroondah City Council area and surrounding suburbs would provide a more “efficient” and “environmentally friendly” delivery option.Wing spokesperson Jesse Suskin said the company was thrilled to kick off delivery in a new state and city, delivering to the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
“Our first nest in Victoria will be located at QIC’s Eastland Shopping Centre in Maroondah, and cover an area which will give over 250,000 residents access to drone delivery via the DoorDash app,” Mr. Suskin said in a statement provided to the Epoch Times.
Mr. Suskin explained that Wing started Australia’s first urban drone delivery service in Southeast Queensland four years ago, integrating delivery drones at major shopping centres in densely populated areas alongside merchants.
“Our customers use drone delivery for things like a loaf of bread to prepare school lunch, toiletries, or an afternoon treat like coffee or ice cream. We’ve been able to provide delivery that’s safe, fast, and environmentally friendly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eastland Shopping Centre general manager Greg Balmforth said, “By bringing drone delivery to Eastland in Ringwood, we can help retailers harness another avenue of business while improving the shopping experience for our customers.”
Puji Fernando, General Manager of DoorDash Australia, said the company is committed to providing the best delivery options to its customers.
“Drone delivery is an excellent complement to our ground delivery services,” he said.
Amazon Offering Drone Delivery in Texas
Melbourne is not the only region offering drone services. Amazon also offers drone delivery in Texas, U.S., providing packages in the area in less than an hour.Their drone delivery service is available only during daylight hours between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Due to wind conditions, drone delivery is not offered at night.
“We’re excited to serve more customers via drone and effectively expand and scale our drone delivery operations,” Amazon said.
“Deploying this onboard technology allows us to expand the reach and capabilities of our delivery services while maintaining our same stringent commitment to safety.”
However, drone risks include privacy concerns, such as the potential use of overhead cameras that can see into homes or backyards.
Logistical issues can also arise in congested areas, such as navigating large buildings and avoiding birds.
