Matternet has launched a drone delivery service in Silicon Valley, providing food and commercial items to consumers’ homes. The company has been running an initial pilot since August 30, and will now expand its service in Mountain View and Sunnyvale.
The pilot programme uses a variant of its Matternet M2 Drone Delivery platform, which has been certified for drone delivery in the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Flying in controlled airspace over densely populated areas, the M2 drones are equipped with a tether drop system, enabling them to lower packages directly to customers’ doorsteps.
The drones are loaded at a central hub, fly directly to the customer’s home, and descend above a customer drop zone to release the package via the tether. Drones then return to the hub, where they can swap their battery and pick up a new package in under 60 seconds, before taking off for their next delivery.
The programme lays the groundwork for a broader roll-out as Matternet prepares to expand operations of its home delivery platform in collaboration with logistics partners. The company says early feedback from local residents has been positive, with respondents noting the speed and convenience of drone delivery.
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