Business
BY ADAM DOE
Walmart partners with Zipline for drone deliveries The Walmart at Rayzor Ranch partnered with drone delivery service Zipline to transport products to customers, Zipline Community Engagement Lead Zach Hill said at a delivery demonstration March 26. What’s happening The drones can deliver orders up to 5 pounds in a 2.5-mile radius around the Rayzor Ranch Walmart, Hill said. Each drone ies and hovers around 300 feet in the air, which is below the limit of planes and helicopters set by the Federal Aviation Admin- istration. They deliver the products by lowering them on a tether to the delivery location. Customers can submit their orders through the Zipline app, which tracks the delivery status and provides an estimated time of arrival. According to Walmart’s website, the drones should arrive to its designated location within 30 minutes and deliveries will be made at a predetermined location, such as a resident’s front yard, backyard or driveway. There is currently no delivery charge for the service, but Hill said the drone delivery service is unlikely to remain free. The Rayzor Ranch Walmart is the company’s 20th delivery partner in Dallas-Fort Worth and the 21st site in the United States, Hill said. The Walmart site can support up to 20 drones. Currently, Zipline has eight operating drones attached to the site. Some background Zipline engaged in community outreach before launching the drones and allowed residents to observe the drone operations at the Walmart site. “It’s a new technology and we want to make sure everyone is comfortable,” Hill said. Zipline has also partnered with food vendors like Bu alo Wild Wings and Chipotle to provide food delivery by drone. Looking ahead Hill said the company plans to increase the drones’ carrying capacity from 5 pounds to 8 pounds by the end of 2026. The Zipline app is available from both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
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The drones have a 2.5-mile delivery radius and can carry up to 5 pounds, according to Zipline o cials.
The Zipline drones have an 8-foot wingspan and can y up to 300 feet in the air.
PHOTOS BY ADAM DOE COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Walmart at Rayzor Ranch has eight operating Zipline delivery drones that are housed on elevated docks.
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