Uber Eats says your next burrito could arrive by drone as soon as late 2025. The company announced a partnership with Flytrex, an autonomous delivery startup, to test food-by-drone in parts of the U.S. Uber is also investing in Flytrex as part of the deal. Drones could make deliveries faster and reduce traffic.

Flytrex already has approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly drones beyond the pilot’s line of sight. That permission is key to making drone delivery possible in real neighborhoods as it would allow the drones to fly farther than they could prior to the rule. The company says it has completed more than 200,000 deliveries in Texas and North Carolina, their test markets so far.

Students say they are curious about the change. Senior Aya Bardawil is excited at the prospect.

“If a drone gets my sushi here faster and still fresh, I’m in.”

Uber has tested drones before. In 2019, the company partnered with McDonald’s in San Diego to see if drones could bring meals to customers in cities, showing the logistical feasibility of the concept. The new plan with Flytrex is a larger step and an expansion of that feasibility, using a company already running commercial drone deliveries to capture their expertise.

Some students question how it will feel to live with buzzing drones overhead. Senior Gianluca Sperman wondered as well.

“How loud are these things over our neighborhood?”

Senior Emma Angeli also has concerns.

“It sounds exciting, but I hope it’s safe for people and pets. I’m just glad there will be less traffic.”

Industry experts say the program is worth watching, but it is not new or a first. If the trials succeed, Uber Eats could join Walmart, Wing (owned by Alphabet), and DoorDash in building nationwide drone networks. While the idea of dinner falling from the sky may sound futuristic and perhaps even ludicrous, the technology is already here, and may soon be part of daily life.