Raphael Thys
Drone delivery company Zipline has revealed its new delivery platform, with drones so quiet they "sound like wind rustling leaves."
Zipline has been around since 2014, and its existing Platform 1 (P1) technology has autonomously flown 40 million miles across Rwanda, Ghana, Japan, Nigeria, and the US. Today, Zipline's next-generation Platform 2 (P2) was unveiled, and looks set to become a common sight in the sky above cities and suburbs across the US.
The so-called "Zips" drones fly at 300 feet and have a 10-mile autonomous delivery radius. Once at their destination they hover at 300 feet while dropping a droid on a tether to the ground where the up to 8 pound delivery payload is deposited. The whole process is described as "practically silent," the delivery can be tracked to the second by customers through an app, and the system is accurate enough to place packages on "a patio table or the front steps of a home."
The drones also autonomously recharge, and the docking/charging hardware can be attached to any building or freestanding structure. It's also possible to install a chute for the droid to be lowered into on its tether so that payloads can be placed inside without someone needing to leave the building, or if it's a food order, without leaving the kitchen. See the video above for an example of how that works.
As the Zips charge autonomously, it's possible for one to travel up to 24 miles before a recharge is required. That means deliveries over much longer distances are possible with multiple stops for a battery top up. It also means Zips can be moved around on a large network to meet demand in different areas.
Zipline already has partnerships with Sweetgreen to deliver food, as well as Michigan Medicine, Intermountain Health, and MultiCare Health System to delivery prescriptions. The company also recently received FAA approval for its onboard autonomous detect and avoid system, as well as Part 135 certification meaning it's "authorized to complete the longest-range, on-demand commercial drone flights in America."
Before Platform 2 is used commercially, Zipline intends to carry out over 10,000 test flights using 100 Zips. By the end of 2023 Zipline will have completed a total of 1 million deliveries and "expects to operate more flights annually than most airlines" by 2025.