Top Food Items Soaring with Ireland’s Food Delivery Drones

An Irish start-up, Manna Aero, is set to launch the UK’s first food delivery drone pilot program in 2026, pending regulatory approval. The company has already successfully completed over 200,000 deliveries using its quadcopter fleet in locations including west Dublin, Espoo in Finland, and Texas.

Expansion Plans of Manna Aero

The CEO of Manna Aero, Bobby Healy, highlighted the UK as a crucial market. He stated, “It’s by far the biggest delivery market today,” emphasizing their excitement to adapt their service to the UK high street.

Current Operations in Dublin

• Manna Aero has conducted around 50,000 deliveries in the D15 postcode of west Dublin since June 2022.
• The drones operate autonomously, flying at an altitude of 80 meters (262 feet).
• Popular items delivered include burgers, chips, fresh meat, and surprisingly, eggs and coffee.

Delivery Mechanism and Customer Guidelines

Before each delivery, a human operator inspects the landing zone, usually a back garden, using a downward-facing camera. The food is lowered via a biodegradable string, which is severed for the delivery. The average flight time for these deliveries is approximately three minutes.

Community Reactions

While Manna Aero boasts the advantages of quieter, safer, and more environmentally friendly delivery options, not all local residents share this enthusiasm. Some, like Mark Hammond and Michael Dooley, express concerns over drone noise, describing it as intrusive and bothersome.

• Mark Hammond complains the drone noise causes stress, affecting relaxation.
• Michael Dooley points out that the drone’s sound is intolerable when hovering.

Addressing Noise Concerns

Healy contests these concerns by referencing a Trinity College study which suggests the noise levels are lower than typical urban background sounds. He asserts that public perception poses a challenge similar to that faced by other innovative technologies in the past.

Regulatory Environment for Drones

The Irish government has introduced a drone policy framework, yet critics argue that comprehensive regulations are still lacking. Manna Aero acknowledges that the EU provides a more favorable regulatory atmosphere for drone operations than the UK or US.

As the company prepares for potential expansion into the UK market, Manna Aero remains optimistic about securing necessary approvals by 2026. Other large companies, including Amazon, are also exploring drone delivery opportunities in the country.

Manna Aero’s innovative approach aims to set a precedent for food delivery systems using drones, combining advancements in technology with evolving consumer needs.