Zipline and Seattle’s Pagliacci Pizza Partner Up With Innovative Approach to Drone Delivery

Zipline, a recognized leader in drone delivery services, is expanding its portfolio into the food sector, starting with a partnership with Seattle's Pagliacci Pizza. This marks a significant step for Zipline, primarily known for its healthcare-related deliveries, as it ventures into consumer services. The move showcases the potential of Drone Technology to disrupt traditional delivery methods across various sectors, and offers a glimpse into the future of drone-based food delivery.

Zipline's Next-Level Drone Delivery Technology

Zipline's success hinges on its advanced Platform 2 drone, which has been specifically engineered to address many of the logistical issues traditionally associated with drone delivery. This fully electric drone is designed to be quiet and efficient, covering a 10-mile radius and safely delivering packages of up to eight pounds.

It's mind-blowing to think about how it's gonna work… Having seen it, it's unbelievably cool.

Matt Galvin, co-owner of Pagliacci

Galvin sees drone delivery as a means to offer faster delivery and wider reach than the chain's existing driver team and also mentioned that many addresses around their locations are difficult to reach for their drivers.

The service will initially be available at a few locations. Even though the drones are expected to increase the chain's delivery reach, Pagliacci plans to maintain its number of drivers, and possibly hire more as the wider reach may boost demand. There are also practical limitations to drone delivery, such as not being able to fit the chain's most popular 17-inch pizza or larger orders.

One significant benefit of drone delivery for Pagliacci is a reduction in carbon emissions, aligning with the company's commitment to becoming carbon neutral. Zipline's drones are expected to enable Pagliacci to scale deliveries sustainably, with up to 97% fewer emissions than cars.

Innovative Approach Attempts to Address Noise & Safety Concerns

What makes Zipline's approach different from current pilot programs is that that their drones don't just fly to a location and drop a package. Instead, it hovers 300 feet above the ground, then lowers a droid on a tether to gently and accurately deliver the package to its destination. This high-precision method eliminates the risk of damage to the goods, ensuring a seamless delivery experience.

According to Zipline, their new Platform 2 offers the following benefits and innovation:

• Can deliver up to 7x as fast as traditional automobile delivery and can complete 10 mile deliveries in about 10 minutes
• Has a 10 mile service radius while carrying a 6-8 pound payload, and can fly up to 24 miles one way
• Can carry a 6-8 pound payload; capacity depends on a range of factors, such as wind and weather
• With its payload, weighs less than 55 pounds
• Will hover at more than 300 feet while its Droid will descend to the ground to deliver a package
• Can precisely deliver in any open space that has a radius of just under 2 feet
• Loading portal enables each Zip to be loaded in seconds
• Will come with Zipline's Detect and Avoid (DAA) technology, the company's autonomous airspace deconfliction tool, which Zipline recently received approval to enable in the U.S., a key step in the path towards long range drone deliveries in the U.S. without visual observers
• Can automatically redistribute themselves from dock to dock, Zipline can dynamically respond to peak order times – ensuring there's enough delivery capacity for an urgent prescription delivery or a busy Friday pizza night or weekday lunch rush

Beyond delivery precision, Zipline's drones also boast a unique onboard autonomous detect-and-avoid system, a crucial safety feature. This system uses a series of small microphones that pick up on sound to identify nearby air traffic and prevent mid-air collisions. This innovative solution has recently garnered the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a significant nod to Zipline's commitment to safety.

Navigating Regulatory Hurdles

As drone technology advances, regulatory bodies are working to establish guidelines that ensure safety without stifling innovation. In the U.S., the FAA has been instrumental in this process, and Zipline has already navigated several important regulatory milestones.

Zipline has obtained Part 135 certification, making it one of the few drone operators allowed to carry another party's property for compensation beyond the visual line of sight. It's a key certification that validates Zipline's adherence to stringent safety and operational standards set by the FAA.

Additionally, Zipline is part of the FAA's Beyond Program, a collaborative effort to address the challenges posed by unmanned aircraft systems. This initiative aims to safely integrate drones into the National Airspace System, a key priority for the FAA, and Zipline's involvement underscores its commitment to pioneering drone delivery in a safe, regulated manner.

What's Next for Zipline?

Zipline's next steps involve extensive testing and fine-tuning of its drone delivery system. The company plans to conduct 10,000 high-volume flight tests using about 100 drones this year. The first customer deployment of a Platform 2 drone is expected to follow shortly after this testing phase.

While the company is eager to launch its service, the timeline will depend largely on regulatory progress. Zipline continues to work closely with the FAA and other relevant authorities to ensure its operations meet all necessary guidelines and safety standards.

In the coming years, Zipline aims to expand its U.S. operations and become a pioneer of commercial drone delivery, not only in Washington state but across the country. As the company continues to refine its technology and navigate the regulatory landscape, we can anticipate a paradigm shift in the delivery industry. For drone operators, this is an exciting time, filled with opportunities for growth, innovation, and transformation.