DoorDash Unveils Quiet Delivery Drone for California Launch

DoorDash unveiled an in-house-designed delivery drone on Tuesday at its headquarters, announcing plans to launch the service in Northern California in the coming months. The company claims its drone is significantly lighter and quieter than Amazon's Prime Air model, weighing under 55 pounds compared to approximately 78 pounds for the competitor.

Executives stated the drone was built with acoustics in mind to avoid the buzzing sounds associated with other delivery drones, describing the noise level as comparable to a passing car. The drones will handle lightweight deliveries over distances of three to five miles. Stanley Tang noted that roughly 80% of typical restaurant orders are small enough for this type of transport.

Chipotle and Popeyes will serve as the first partners for the service. Harrison Shih, head of DoorDash Air, emphasized that the drone was built with acoustics in mind from the ground up, asserting that users "won't really hear it."