Drone delivery skeptic? You haven't seen this

[Droning on and on...]

This is one of the coolest videos I've seen in quite a while!

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[mavic3usa]

I think I'm one of the 30+ million viewers who have seen this video....multiple times. Cool stuff, no doubt!

Still a skeptic.

 

[Chip]

Gee, and they just started testing their drones in New Jersey 60 days ago. Huh.

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[Cafguy]

Until they can come up with a way for it to haul more stuff then I don't see it as viable.
Think what it would cost them to hire a group of people dedicated to delivering one package at a time, as opposed to filling up a truck and letting one guy deliver dozens..

 

[Droning on and on...]

Until they can come up with a way for it to haul more stuff then I don't see it as viable.
Think what it would cost them to hire a group of people dedicated to delivering one package at a time, as opposed to filling up a truck and letting one guy deliver dozens..

Guess you didn't watch the video.

You couldn't have, and make those statements.

Half a million flights. 90 seconds from order to launch. Makin' bank.

I'd call that "viable"

I thought one of the coolest ideas was how it shows up at the vendor, drop the ground unit in that little window box, the customer/vendor just opens the door on the wall and puts the package in, the closes the door and the rest is magic.

Or, just drop on a table out back of the restaurant. Meanwhile the dangerous part, the drone, hovers overhead 200ft above.

This is very exciting! they're just getting spun up in the US, I'm very hopeful.

 

[Captain Spock]

Anyone see anything about max payload weight?
Also, while the mother drone may position-keep w/ GPS, there is nothing to prevent the package from swaying with the wind. Comments?

 

[Kilboar]

Very cool.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Droning on and on...]

Zipline Fact Sheet | Zipline Drone Delivery & Logistics

Explore key facts about Zipline’s pioneering drone delivery technology. Discover Zipline's mission, impact, and innovations transforming logistics and delivery worldwide. Get an in-depth look at Zipline's achievements and services.

www.flyzipline.com

Viable? Quote:

• Zipline was founded in 2014 and launched its commercial operations in 2016, first serving a single hospital in Rwanda. Zipline now operates on four continents, eight countries and serves more than 4,500 hospitals and health facilities. Zipline’s food, retail, and healthcare deliveries currently reach tens of millions of people around the world.
• Zipline has made more than 1,000,000 deliveries to real customers and makes a delivery every 60 seconds. Zipline has flown more than 95 million autonomous commercial miles and flies farther than the circumference of the earth every six hours. Over the next few years Zipline anticipates becoming the world’s busiest airline by flight volume.

The home delivery system shown below (platform 2) has a payload capacity of 8 lbs. The delivery container can be landed with centimeter accuracy, allowing for delivery to secure locations, like backyard table, or a vertically accessible balcony.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Anyone see anything about max payload weight?
Also, while the mother drone may position-keep w/ GPS, there is nothing to prevent the package from swaying with the wind. Comments?

8 lbs.

 

[Mt-Ed]

With all the "craziness" that exists in this world, seeing such innovations gives me hope for the survival the human race. Not that this specific development will be the great "savior", but that there are so many folks in the world working on advancements like this. On a side note, the design of those props really blows my mind! I'm sure their design is under patent, but if/and when a certain country sees them, I suspect that exact design, I mean a knock off, will soon be available on all of their newly designed drones.

 

[mavic3usa]

With all the "craziness" that exists in this world, seeing such innovations gives me hope for the survival the human race. Not that this specific development will be the great "savior", but that there are so many folks in the world working on advancements like this. On a side note, the design of those props really blows my mind! I'm sure their design is under patent, but if/and when a certain country sees them, I suspect that exact design, I mean a knock off, will soon be available on all of their newly designed drones.

There isn't anyone working on seriously making this happen. It's a fun side project that companies can use to glorify their standing and demonstrate that the ability to innovate is not totally dead. However, there are no serious intentions of ever bringing this kind of tech to the mass market available to everyone. These days, people find value in building and showcasing concepts and dreams. There's a lot of gratification for showing off at trade shows, in social media, and among your peer group. The rest of it from there is simply too hard. None of this is intended to make any money or make life easier for anyone. This company has been operating for over 10 years now and this is exactly what you'll see 10 years from now; incremental progress, baby step, tweaking out of necessity. If you think you'll ever see "drone delivery" as an option in your Paypal checkout with a $1 surcharge and the expected delivery date change from 2 days to 2 hours when you order an Apple Watch blue watchband for $15 then.....not going to happen.

 

[Chip]

39 Zips flying together, deconflicting autonomously.

https://a-us.storyblok.com/f/1003963/x/2a95878cf5/39-zips-alternate.mp4

 

[Droning on and on...]

Just watched another video discussing their avoidance system, currently under review by the FAA and several patents pending, so they were vague about the technical specifics.

Apparently there's something new and innovative about it that makes it much better than the vision systems used on our DJI drones.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Here's another great video, discusses why Amazon and their system has fallen so far behind Zipline.

They should abandon their effort and invest in Zipline.

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[Droning on and on...]

39 Zips flying together, deconflicting autonomously.

https://a-us.storyblok.com/f/1003963/x/2a95878cf5/39-zips-alternate.mp4

The whole tail hook capture landing system is fully autonomous. When they return, if more than one arrives at the same time, they autonomously insert into the pattern, all talking to each other, and land in the order of least battery to most (duh!).

This is operational in Ghana. It's routine. I had no idea this was so fully developed and mature in Ghana operations.

They've done over a million deliveries worldwide now. Back when they were around a half million, they had had zero injuries to any humans. ZERO.

 

[Chip]

The whole tail hook capture landing system is fully autonomous. When they return, if more than one arrives at the same time, they autonomously insert into the pattern, all talking to each other, and land in the order of least battery to most (duh!).

This is operational in Ghana. It's routine. I had no idea this was so fully developed and mature in Ghana operations.

They've done over a million deliveries worldwide now. Back when they were around a half million, they had had zero injuries to any humans. ZERO.

Its great they have flown successfully in the middle of nowhere. I'm just fascinated to see the 39 drones flying autonomously at night in deconfliction mode and wondering exactly when and where they have been tested over urban areas in the US, with whose authorization and with what public disclosure? Why is the Department of Defense involved? Is this a civilian delivery system or dual military purpose?

 

[Droning on and on...]

Its great they have flown successfully in the middle of nowhere. I'm just fascinated to see the 39 drones flying autonomously at night in deconfliction mode and wondering exactly when and where they have been tested over urban areas in the US, with whose authorization and with what public disclosure? Why is the Department of Defense involved? Is this a civilian delivery system or dual military purpose?

Great questions. Write them and ask.

As far as "middle of nowhere", that's most US territory. Plenty of people that could benefit.

This whole industry is far further than I had any idea. We hear about (failed) Amazon all the time, and assume that's representative. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Watch the CNBC video above. There are quite a few competitors to Zipline. Doordash is delivering in Australia!

The US is way behind due to a much heavier regulated environment, and of course bureaucracy. It's coming, regardless.

I also find it informative that all of these drones, Zipline and their competitors, are fixed-wing with Osprey VTOL-like designs.
5 years from now I'm pretty sure I'll be getting restaurant deliveries by drone at home in Santa Cruz.