BROADCASTS.com

b'

It\\u2019s been nearly six years since Domino\\u2019s pushed drone technology to its logical peak by delivering a pizza but now the dream is getting closer to becoming reality.

SkyDrop, the pizza maker\\u2019s partner in aerial pizza logistics, said this week that it\\u2019s completed building the Domino\\u2019s drone fleet and that commercial tests will begin soon in New Zealand. The company said its drones will be able to carry orders like three extra-large pizzas, or two large pizzas with one soda and one side dish (including dipping sauce).

SkyDrop's operational system for drone delivery includes two aircraft, one ground infrastructure platform, and one autonomous control station that the company said allows for a frictionless workflow at the store location.

Besides being totally awesome, pizza delivered by drone offers perks like reducing traffic and CO2 emissions. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still around, it has the added benefit of being contactless.

Back in 2016, Domino\\u2019s completed its first drone delivery after flying for about five minutes and dropping two pizzas into a couple\\u2019s backyard in New Zealand. At the time, the company said it hoped to expand drone delivery to Australia, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Japan and Germany.

Since then, SkyDrop has been evolving its technology. The company increased the payload of the SkyDrop drone up to 3.5 kilograms, increased the precision delivery altitude of the drone up to 60 meters and incorporated a parachute system for safety.

And now, the time is right. The world is ready. Let the pizzas fly.

Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.