Matternet is the latest drone developer making moves in the restaurant delivery space.
Founded in 2011, the company started in humanitarian logistics and healthcare, transporting urgent items such as blood samples, COVID vaccines, and chemotherapy drugs. In the U.S., Matternet has partnered with UPS since 2019.
Recently, it launched a pilot program with Dave’s Hot Chicken in Northridge, Los Angeles. Orders can be placed through Dave’s app and a drone will be dispatched for delivery.
“It’s really magical,” said Andreas Raptopoulos, CEO and Founder of Matternet. “You place an order, and you may get it in seven to ten minutes. It’s as if you’re consuming it right at the restaurant.”
How the technology works
At the core of Matternet’s system is its landing station, or micro-hub, installed in or near the restaurant. Staff scan the order and load it into the drone, which takes off automatically. The station also charges the drones’ batteries, allowing them to fly multiple deliveries in succession. One remote operator can monitor multiple drones anywhere in the country, meaning no additional on-site staff are needed.
“With quick-service restaurants, the quality of the food degrades quickly after preparation,” Raptopoulos explained. “With drones, that time is drastically reduced, which makes a big difference.”
Matternet’s drones are FAA type-certified, allowing them to fly over cities, highways, and dense neighborhoods. Deliveries go directly to designated drop zones, whether at single-family homes or apartment buildings. Customers receive notifications when the drone is arriving.
Matternet plans to partner with more fast-casual restaurants for food delivery.
“Everybody cares about cost,”said Raptopoulos. “At scale, because you have no humans involved on site—only remote oversight—one person can manage a fleet of drones flying anywhere in the world.”
Industry outlook
Matternet sees broader adoption on the horizon. “In the next two to three years, we’ll see a lot of drone delivery happening in the U.S. By 2030, the industry could reach single-digit million deliveries per day.”
With FAA updates allowing beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, drone delivery is expected to scale significantly.
Related: New FAA Rule Could Supercharge Drone Delivery, Here’s What it Means for Restaurants
Currently, Matternet is focused on the Dave’s Hot Chicken pilot with plans to partner with more restaurants.
Related: Drones Set to Transform Restaurant Delivery
The drone company joins several others working with restaurants and retail for sky high deliveries. This includes Flytrex, Zipline, and Wing among others.
