An Irish start-up is hoping to have the UK’s first food drone delivery pilot scheme operating in 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
With a fleet of specially designed 23kg quadcopters, Manna Aero has carried out more than 200,000 food delivery flights in west Dublin, Espoo in Finland and Texas.
As the company aims to expand, its CEO Bobby Healy said the UK “would be our most important market in Europe. It’s by far the biggest delivery market today. We think our product maps really well onto the UK high street, particularly”.
A local group is protesting against the drones
“We’re actively in dialogue with both the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and with NATS (National Air Traffic Services), the airspace manager for the country. And we expect to be there next year,” Mr Healy added.
Manna has completed up to 50,000 deliveries in the D15 postcode of west Dublin since its trial started a year and a half ago.
The drones, which are almost fully autonomous, dart overhead at a cruising altitude of 262ft (80m), carrying everything from burgers and chips to fresh meat from a local butcher’s shop.
Coffee is the most popular order, Mr Healy said, but “we were really surprised that we deliver a lot of fresh eggs. I think people are trying to deliberately test us to see if we can deliver something as delicate as eggs, but it’s not a problem”.
Customers must ensure a landing zone – usually a back garden – is clear of obstacles.
This is checked by a human drone operator using a downward-facing camera, before the food is released. The packages descend on a biodegradable string, which is then severed.
“The average flight time is about three minutes. The advantage is that it’s quieter, it’s safer, it’s greener, and it’s better for business…
