Domino's to launch pizza drone delivery service
Domino's is set to launch the world's first commercial pizza drone delivery system in New Zealand.
Beginning later this year, customers in New Zealand will open their front doors, not to a uniformed pizza delivery guy or gal, but to DRU (Domino's Robotic Unit) Drone, an airborne, carbon fiber and aluminum drone.
One big plus for consumers? DRU doesn't need to be tipped.
A YouTube video demo shows the drone hovering above its designated delivery point, releasing a pizza box from a specially designed carriage unit, and lowering it from a tethered cable.
It's not the first time the Domino's brand has strapped a pizza to a drone. In 2013, Domino's Pizza UK garnered headlines with its DomiCopter. Unlike the one-time publicity stunt, however, the service in New Zealand will be rolled out commercially, starting from a select store which hasn't yet been named.
In 2014, Russian pizzeria DoDo also rolled out unmanned pizza delivery service to residents in the northern city ofSyktyvkar. The drones were eventually grounded by Russian authorities.
New Zealand cleared the way for commercial drone deliveries last year.
In the US, drones will be allowed to conduct deliveries as of August 29 under certain conditions. For example, the device must remain within visual line of sight, avoid flight over people, and operate during daylight.
Domino's is the latest company to board the drone delivery trend and usher in a new age of service.
Last month, the largest convenience store chain in the world, 7-Eleven, conducted its first drone delivery in the US, conveying a chicken sandwich, coffee and donuts to a local family in Reno, Nevada.
Likewise, online retail giant Amazon, Wal-Mart and Google parent Alphabet are also working on providing commercial drone delivery service.
