DoorDash shows off under‑55‑pound delivery drone for Northern California launch

DoorDash showed off its in‑house delivery drone on Tuesday, a six‑rotor craft weighing under 55 pounds. The drone is slated to begin deliveries in Northern California within months, carrying light orders three to five miles.

It weighs less than Amazon’s Prime Air drone, which the company lists at roughly 78 pounds. Its slow‑spinning propellers were shaped to produce a sound comparable to a passing car, aiming to reduce noise complaints. DoorDash said the first restaurant partners will be Chipotle and Popeyes. The three‑to‑five‑mile range is expected to cover about 80 % of typical DoorDash orders.

“The six-rotor drone comes in under 55 pounds, compared with the roughly 78 pounds Amazon lists for its Prime Air drone, and its slow-spinning propellers were designed so it sounds about like a passing car,” Stanley Tang, co‑founder and chief product officer said.

“The design was built around noise from the start, as Amazon’s drones face complaints from residents about their buzzing,” Harrison Shih, DoorDash Air head said.

DoorDash designed the drone in-house for its DoorDash Air service. Amazon’s Prime Air drone has drawn complaints from residents about its buzzing noise.

What we know

• DoorDash said service will start in Northern California within months

• The six‑rotor drone weighs under 55 pounds

• Amazon’s Prime Air drone is listed at roughly 78 pounds

• The drones will carry light orders three to five miles

• This range covers about 80% of typical DoorDash restaurant orders