Fast Company’s "The World's Most Innovative Companies of 2023" list showcases cutting-edge companies in fields such as biotech, energy, logistics, transportation, and more. Not surprisingly, the list contains three firms that are making a difference in the way they use uncrewed technology.

Here’s a look at three drone-related companies named to the Fast Company list:

  • Food delivery company Flytrex nabbed the tenth spot in the “Dining” category for its commercial efforts in Texas and North Carolina. According to Fast Company, with recent FAA waivers, “(T)he company can now deliver food and drinks to eligible customers who place orders through its delivery app (approximately 100,000 compared to 40,000 last year). Delivery takes approximately three and a half minutes in Flytrex’s current authorized range of 2.3 miles.”

  • Coming in at #3 in the “Rapid Respone” sector was Skydio. The company was selected for its public safety efforts following Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida last September. Fast Company said: “Skydio helped keep critical drones in air the during recovery efforts, building out a network of free support services that included a 24/7 emergency hotline, free replacement for damaged drones, and access to cloud services. Meanwhile, Skydio’s drones produced 3D models, or ‘digital twins,’ that helped rescue workers and residents assess damage.”

  • Epirus ranked #8 in the “Security” category. The company was recognized for its counter-UAS systems, which use software-based microwaves to stop drone swarms in military operations. According to Fast Company, Epirus is “is eyeing applications for commercial markets too: precisely controlling the voltage and current of high-power amplifiers could enable previously unimaginable performance in all kinds of microwave and communications systems.”

  • Zipline was #4 on the “Logistics” list. Operating what Fast Company called “largest on-demand drone delivery network in the world,” Zipline recently launched partnerships with MultiCare Health System and Intermountain Healthcare to deliver medications and other products. The work builds on Zipline’s years of drone delivery experience working in the US, as well as Ghana, Japan, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

Find the complete Fast Company list here.