DoorDash says its delivery drone is lighter and quieter than Amazon's
DoorDash has unveiled a new in-house drone delivery service designed with a focus on quiet acoustics, aiming to avoid the noise complaints associated with competitors like Amazon. The service is scheduled to launch in Northern California in the coming months.
Why it matters
As drone delivery becomes more viable, companies are increasingly competing on public perception and noise pollution to gain regulatory and community approval.
DoorDash said the sound of the drone is comparable to a passing car during drop off. Lloyd Lee/BI DoorDash is launching a drone delivery service this year, starting in Northern California. DoorDash said its drone weighs under 55 pounds and sounds like a passing car. Harrison Shih, head of DoorDash Air, said the company built the drone with acoustics in mind. DoorDash says its new drone delivery service could take flight this year without a buzz — literally. At a media event hosted at the company's headquarters on Tuesday, DoorDash unveiled its in-house-designed drone that will launch in Northern California "in the coming months," Stanley Tang, DoorDash cofounder and chief product officer, said. Outside, on the company headquarters' rooftop, DoorDash's drone sat on a platform with its six propellers spinning. Wind, music, and chatter drowned out any sound of the vehicle.
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