SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Residents may be seeing Uber delivery drones in San Diego's skies as soon as this year.
Uber Elevate, Uber's drone and air transportation leg, announced this week during the Forbes’ 30 under 30 Summit that the company will begin testing Uber Eats delivery drones in summer 2020. The company added, though, that delivery service using partner drone operators could come in the coming months.
A rendering of the Uber Eats drone shows six-rotors will allow the drone to take off and land vertically, with the ability to rotate to provide more lift and speed. The drone is designed to carry a meal for two people.
Uber Elevate says the drone is designed to travel a total of 18 miles or 12 miles round-trip. The company says the drone is equipped to cruise below 400 feet and comply with existing regulations to operate the aircraft.
The company estimates the drone can perform a delivery in eight minutes, including time to load and unload.
The company says the design has passed the design review phase and is expected to fly before the end of the year.
