Sphere Drones got the chance to sit down and talk to Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of drone delivery company Flytrex. Since its founding in late 2013, Flyxtrex has set out on a mission to build the world's first drone-based delivery system.
In August of 2017, Flytrex successfully launched its drone delivery service in Iceland and is now completing deliveries in the United States.
What will be the biggest area for drone delivery in 2022?
On-demand drone delivery of food and goods to suburban backyards is proving to be a faster, more economical, safer, and greener method of last-mile fulfilment, which we believe will lead to widespread adoption – particularly by retailers looking for sustainable, ultra-swift delivery at scale. Traditional couriers are only able to make around two deliveries per hour by car in suburban areas, whereas a single drone operator can perform more than 10 deliveries per hour, allowing countless households to enjoy the convenience of on-demand aerial delivery – leading to less congestion on the roads, fewer accidents, and less pollution (drones are 100% electric).
What are the biggest setbacks delivery drones are currently facing?
Flytrex drones are held to the same exacting regulatory standards as the airline industry. To meet these stringent safety standards, Flytrex has developed its own drone, ensuring full control over its design and manufacturing – down to the smallest bolt – much like a commercial aircraft.
Flytrex has worked hand in hand with key national and state regulators to help drive regulatory advances aimed at getting drone delivery off the ground. Most recently, Flytrex received approval from the FAA to expand its delivery radius to one nautical mile across all its operating stations in North Carolina – offering food, drinks and other goods to approximately 10,000 eligible households. It is also amongst a handful of companies waiting for Part 135 certification.
How are consumer reacting to delivery drones?
Consumer demand for instant gratification is only rising as we grow more accustomed to the ease and convenience of ultra-fast delivery. In the past year, Flytrex delivered over 12,000 items to suburban front and backyards in North Carolina – a record-breaking achievement.
Until now, on-demand delivery has been largely seen as economically impractical in suburban and rural areas, where traditional couriers are only able to make around two deliveries per hour. Flytrex is changing that – our system has been specially designed for on-demand drone delivery of food and retail directly to consumers’ homes, providing unique short-range, high-bandwidth and low-margin last-mile fulfilment – which translates to a better, faster service at more affordable prices.
Which drones do you fly, if any?
The Flytrex drones are manufactured in-house – this enables us to meet the highest regulatory standards for drone delivery and create a UAV that fits our specific goals: carrying out swift, safe, and sustainable on-demand autonomous aerial deliveries.
The last drone I built and flew myself was a fixed wing 2-engine (electric) with a Paparazzi flight controller. I also recently built an Estes module rocket with the kids if that counts.
