DRONEDEK’s Smart Mailbox Makes Global Debut August 14 as it Delivers Hot Wings via Drone to Lawrence First Responders

INDIANAPOLIS – August 2, 2021 – DRONEDEK, one of the first companies in the world to patent a smart mailbox designed for secure drone delivery, is gearing up to demonstrate the future of package delivery on Saturday, August 14 at the Lawrence Community Safety Day.

“We couldn’t dream up a more fun way to demonstrate the viability of this technology than delivering wings by drone,” said DRONEDEK Founder Dan O’Toole. “First, we’re giving back to first responders who keep us all safe, and second, who doesn’t love the idea of pairing hot wings with airborne delivery?”

DRONEDEK is currently building its global headquarters in Lawrence where it is investing to renovate a long vacant building with plans to employ up to 85 employees over the next five years. 

 The demonstration will be the first time the company shows off its patented mailbox, which is capable of keeping packages hot or cold and will alert users to package arrival. An app controls when the device is opened for delivery and retrieval.

“We plan to be a very active corporate citizen, so when we learned about the upcoming Community Safety Day, we jumped at the chance to show central Indiana what we’re bringing to market,” O’Toole said.

Members of the media and public are encouraged to attend the entire event on Saturday, August 14th, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lawrence Fire Station 40 – 59th & Lee Road. See the full itinerary here.

To see next-generation delivery tech in action, plan to be in place by 11:30 a.m. when DRONDEK plans to begin delivery of hot wings for the 12:30 p.m. hot wings contest that will pit first responders against each other.

The mailbox is designed for commercial and residential use, though the initial customer base is expected to be commercial with deliveries mainly to office parks and commercial enterprises. The average delivery in the U.S. weighs less than five pounds. The DRONEDEK mailbox can easily accommodate most packages currently being delivered daily between businesses across the nation, O’Toole said. It also includes a mail slot for traditional delivery via the U.S. Postal Service.

DRONEDEK solve two critical challenges of the package delivery industry: the expense and inefficiency of the last-mile and package security. 

“Another issue we’re solving for businesses, specifically, is delayed or lost packages, many of which are highly time-sensitive,” O’Toole said. “No more losing important documents on a busy desk or mailroom. With DRONEDEK, you’re alerted when the package arrives, and it stays in a secure location until you unlock the mailbox to get it.”

DRONEDEK has raised more than $3 million from a combination of angel investors and a crowdsourcing campaign, which is ongoing. The company holds two U.S. patents for its sophisticated mailbox, which is designed to accept drone deliveries of any type, including food deliveries that it can keep hot or cold.

About DRONEDEK: DRONEDEK’s smart mailbox enables customers to fully automate their delivery process for the last mile. See the mailbox and learn more at DRONEDEK.com 

Media Contact: Cheryl Reed/ 317-446-5240