CHARLOTTE, N.C. – DoorDash has partnered with Wing to deliver food from local restaurants by drone in Charlotte.
This marks the first time Charlotte residents can receive food delivered by a flying drone.
Starting today, eligible DoorDash customers within about four miles of The Arboretum Shopping Center in southern Charlotte can order from a selection of local and national restaurants and choose to have their items delivered by drone. The lineup includes Charlotte favorites like Curry Junction, Matcha Cafe Maiko, Joa Korean food, and Panera Bread* — the city’s first national partner available for drone delivery. To celebrate the launch, customers can enjoy a $1 bowl of Panera Bread’s iconic mac & cheese delivered by drone through the DoorDash app for a limited time.**
“We are committed to continuously redefining convenience and unlocking innovative ways to enhance the Panera experience, and we’re thrilled to partner with DoorDash and Wing on this pilot,” said Meenakshi Nagarajan, Chief Digital Officer, Panera Bread. “This partnership offers a cutting-edge way to deliver the quality and craveability that our guests know and love, right to their doorstep.”
The Charlotte expansion is the next step in a successful partnership between Wing and DoorDash. DoorDash and Wing first launched drone delivery together in Australia in 2022. Since then, the partnership expanded to the U.S., with drone delivery service available to DoorDash customers in parts of Southwest Virginia, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and now Charlotte. DoorDash and Wing plan to expand to additional neighborhoods later this year.
How does drone delivery work?
Wing’s technology is designed to seamlessly integrate into existing supply chains and multi-modal delivery environments, so our partners can deliver small packages safely, reliably, quickly, and very efficiently. Missions are initiated either by customers using Wing’s app to place orders or through API integrations with our partners’ platforms. Once the item is ready to go, a drone takes off, picks up the package using a tether, and then climbs to a cruise height of about 150 ft above ground.
The drone autonomously navigates to the delivery spot at speeds of about 65 mph. Once at the destination, the drone slows down, hovers, descends to a delivery height of 23 feet above ground and then lowers the package on a tether. The drone automatically releases the package when it gently touches the ground, and there’s no need for a person to unclip or assist with the delivery. The drone then climbs back to cruise height and returns to a Wing facility, where it autonomously lands on a charging pad and gets ready for its next mission.
How fast do Wing drones fly?
Wing’s drones cruise at 65 mph.
Who flies the drones?
Wing drones are highly automated. Wing’s technology allows operators to oversee the system from a remote location, which means no pilots are stationed at stores or customer homes. The aircraft essentially fly themselves, so each operator is approved to safely oversee many drones at the same time.
How do customers take the package off the drone? How close do drones get to people?
Once at the destination, the drone slows down, hovers, descends to a delivery height of 23 feet above ground and then lowers the package on a tether. The drone automatically releases the package when it gently touches the ground, and there’s no need for a person to unclip or assist with the delivery.
