Zipline has developed a new delivery drone system, the P2 Zip, which could reduce local delivery times for medical supplies, prescriptions, and food. The system has been in development since 2014 and consists of a droid that is placed within an eVTOL drone. The P2 Zip can carry up to eight pounds and can travel as far as a 10-mile out-and-back service radius.
Once the drone reaches its destination, a second droid is lowered by a retractable tether and uses sensory cameras to detect where to land the package. Recipients can retrieve their packages by opening the droid. The P2 Zip is expected to be used in health care facilities and for delivering blood and vaccines to remote areas. It will also be used by companies such as Sweetgreen to deliver food to customers' homes.
Zipline plans to release the P2 Zip within a year. While it has the potential to revolutionize local delivery times, there are concerns about drone traffic in the sky. Despite this, Zipline's P2 Zip has the potential to be a life-saving asset and an efficient way to deliver packages.
