Zipline, a promising logistics startup, is making waves in the industry with its innovative drone technology. Since its inception in 2014, the company’s autonomous electric delivery drones have flown over 38 million miles, making a significant impact in the health sector by transporting blood and other essential supplies to clinics and hospitals.
Expanding Horizons
Initially, Zipline started its operations in Rwanda but has since expanded its services to six other countries. The company also has limited delivery services and distribution centers in three states in the U.S. Recently, Zipline unveiled its next-generation aircraft, with the aim of revolutionizing rapid aerial deliveries for customers all over the U.S., including densely populated urban areas.
The P2 Zip
The company’s new drone, the P2 Zip, is designed to carry up to eight pounds of cargo within a ten-mile radius. The drone can precisely land a package on a space as small as a table or a doorstep. This capability is significant considering a vast majority of e-commerce packages in the U.S. weigh five pounds or less.
The P2 Zip can cover ten miles in ten minutes, making deliveries approximately seven times faster than any typical service today. This rapid delivery service could potentially deter “porch pirates,” referring to the theft of packages left on a doorstep while the customer is away.
Technology Behind the P2 Zip
Unlike Zipline’s original drone, the P1 Zip, which features a fixed wing or glider-like design, the P2 employs both lift and cruise propellers and a fixed wing. These features enable it to navigate accurately and silently, even in adverse weather conditions.
To deliver cargo, the P2 Zip hovers about 300 feet above ground level and dispatches a mini-aircraft and container called the “droid.” The droid descends on a long thin tether, maneuvering quietly into place with fan-like thrusters before settling down for package retrieval.
Despite the introduction of the P2 Zip, Zipline’s original P1 drones will continue to be in production and wide usage. The P1 Zip can fly a longer distance, delivering up to five pounds of cargo within a 60-mile radius. However, it requires a larger space for take-off, landings, and “the drop.”
The Charging Dock
The new P2 Zip can dock and recharge autonomously at a unique charging station that resembles a street lamp with an arm and a large disc attached to it. These docks can be installed in a single parking spot or alongside a building, depending on zoning and permits.
Setting up these docks is as straightforward as installing an electric vehicle charger. Zipline envisions these docks being set up by restaurants in downtown shopping districts or alongside a hospital’s outer wall, where the droid can be inserted into a window or dumbwaiter, retrieved, and reloaded by healthcare workers indoors.
Expansion Plans
Before developing the P2 Zip, Zipline had already established logistics networks in several countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda. The company also operates drone delivery networks in the U.S., in North Carolina, Arkansas, and Utah. The introduction of the P2 Zip is expected to aid in expanding this network.
Partnerships
Several partners plan to test deliveries via P2 Zip. These include the healthy fast-casual restaurant Sweetgreen, Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Michigan Medicine, Multicare Healthcare System in Tacoma, Wash., and the government of Rwanda.
Competition
Zipline is part of a program with other startups like DroneUp and Flytrex to make deliveries for Walmart. Amazon has also been working on drone delivery for nearly a decade, although it has faced challenges in overcoming regulations and low demand from test customers.
The Goal: Quiet and Green
Zipline’s engineering team has focused on making the drones not only safe and energy-efficient but also quiet enough for residents to embrace their use.
The P2 Zip’s droid is designed to enter distribution centers through a small portal, where it’s loaded up with goods for delivery.
Environmental Impact
Zipline aims to have a net-beneficial impact on the environment while improving business logistics. The company’s drones are designed to avoid traffic congestion by going overhead, and since they’re electric, they can be powered with renewable or clean energy.
Reducing Waste
Zipline’s drone delivery allows companies to centralize more inventory, significantly reducing waste. A study published by Lancet found that hospitals using Zipline services managed to reduce their total annual blood supply waste rate by 67%.
Future Plans
Zipline aims to bring this efficiency to every corner of commerce. The company plans to keep the cost of drone delivery competitive with existing services, like FedEx and UPS, or food delivery apps like Uber Eats and Instacart.
Before that, the startup plans to conduct more than 10,000 test flights using about 100 new P2 Zips this year. With its existing P1 drones, Zipline is already on track to complete about 1 million deliveries by the end of 2023, and by 2025 it expects to operate more flights annually than most commercial airlines.