DoorDash Gains FAA Certification to Operate Its Own Drone Delivery Program

DoorDash has gained FAA certification to operate its own drone delivery program, the Robot Report reported on July 31. The approval came nearly a year after DoorDash unveiled its first delivery robot and reflects the company's increasing interest in building automation in-house rather than relying on partners.

What the Certification Allows

Under the FAA's Part 135 air carrier certification, DoorDash can now operate commercial drone deliveries beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The certification covers a fleet of drones that DoorDash has been testing in select US markets. The company will be able to expand its drone-delivery service to more cities, integrate drones into its broader logistics platform, and operate at scale.

"The FAA approval came nearly a year after DoorDash unveiled its delivery robot and reflects its increasing interest in building automation in-house," the Robot Report wrote.

Why DoorDash Is Going In-House

DoorDash has historically partnered with drone-delivery companies like Wing (Alphabet) and Manna for limited pilots. The decision to build in-house reflects three forces: unit economics that improve when the drone fleet is owned rather than rented, integration with DoorDash's existing routing and dispatch software, and control over the customer experience. DoorDash has also hired a significant in-house autonomy team.

The Competitive Picture

DoorDash is one of several delivery and logistics companies investing in autonomous delivery. Uber has partnered with roughly 30 autonomous vehicle companies. Walmart has its own drone program. Amazon's Prime Air continues to operate in limited markets. The race is now on to build delivery networks that are dramatically cheaper per drop than human-driven delivery - and drones are the most visible bet.