Just a year after reaching the 1 million delivery milestone, drone delivery startup Zipline is expanding again. This time it’s in Texas. The company officially launched its latest service in the Dallas area on Tuesday through its partnership with Walmart.
Residents of Mesquite, Texas, about 15 miles east of Dallas, can now sign up to receive their items in just 30 minutes. Orders are fulfilled using Zipline’s latest drone model, the P2 ZIP.
The zipline journey began in Rwanda and Ghana, and was recognized by using a fleet of autonomous electric drones to deliver blood, vaccines and medications to difficult-to-reach clinics. Since then, the company has grown far beyond its original footprint, expanding in multiple African countries and into markets like Japan and the US.
Today, Zipline designs, builds and operates its own drones and delivery systems. The client list spans more than 4,700 hospitals and health facilities, including the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, and spans major consumer brands such as Walmart, GNC, Sweet Green and Chipotle. Having raised over $500 million from top investors such as Sequoia Capital and Google Ventures, Zipline has established itself as one of the most dominant players in autonomous logistics.
Its zero-emission drones fly over 70 million autonomous commercial miles across four continents and offer over 10 million products. The startup was founded in 2014 by Keenan Wyrobek, Keller Rinaudo and Will Hetzler.
From vaccines to ice cream: Zipline and Walmart launch drone delivery
In Mesquite, Walmart customers can drop items into their driveways and front yards with a P2 ZIP that rises approximately 300 feet from the ground. The small aircraft, which calls a “delivery zip,” gently steers into place by lowering the package on the long tether, using a fan-like thruster.
Both drones are equipped with cameras, sensors, and Nvidia chips to navigate around and avoid obstacles. CEO Keller Rinaudo Cliffton says delivery accuracy is “dinner plate level” even in windy conditions.
Zipline is worth $4.2 billion and has completed around 1.5 million delivery so far. The closest US competitor, Wing, has delivered over 450,000 deliveries since 2012.
“Zipline has completed roughly 1.5 million deliveries than its western competitors. Wing is a Zipline rival focused on home delivery, reporting over 450,000 deliveries since 2012,” CNBC reported.
Last month, Zipline announced that its drone had recorded more than 100 million autonomous miles. 4,000 trips around the globe or 200 round trips to the moon. The Milestone highlights how far the company has come since its first medical flight almost a decade ago.
With demand for faster and cleaner delivery options continuing to grow, Zipline bets that its unique model can be successful in US suburbs and cities. And with Walmart currently on board in Texas, the bet looks stronger than ever.
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