VOXL from ModalAI helps Uber Eats test BVLOS drone delivery of food

Uber Eats is using Qualcomm spin-out ModalAI‘s VOXL system to provide flight communications. Unlike satellite-based systems, VOXL uses smartphone networks rather than the Global Positioning System (GPS). The company said this allows for an integrated, machine vision-based, autonomous navigation system for drones and robots, both indoors and outdoors.  The system, recently tested in San Diego, enabled a drone using VOXL to communicate over 4G to Uber Elevate Cloud Services, a proprietary system that tracks and guides drone flights. Qualcomm has just added another navigation patent to it’s burgeoning drone portfolio, which means Qualcomm is going beyond communication to create a more complete offering for the drone industry.