Can Logistics Take Flight—Literally?

When roads are unreliable or time is critical, traditional delivery networks can fall short. That’s where Zipline, a California-based logistics and robotics company, comes in. With its autonomous drone technology, Zipline has built an aerial delivery system that operates beyond the limits of ground transportation—making critical deliveries to remote villages, dense cities, and everywhere in between.

A Mission That Started With Medicine

Zipline launched in 2016 with a focused mission: deliver life-saving blood and medical supplies to remote hospitals in Rwanda. Today, it has expanded operations to countries across Africa, Asia, and North America—completing over 1.4 million deliveries and flying more than 100 million autonomous miles.

What started as a healthcare solution has grown into a broader platform capable of serving a wide range of logistics needs.

Platform 2: Precision for Urban Delivery

Zipline’s latest system, Platform 2, includes a larger drone and a smaller, autonomous delivery pod known as the “Droid.” While the main aircraft hovers overhead, the Droid descends on a tether and navigates the final meters to the delivery point—placing packages with pinpoint accuracy, even in complex urban environments.

This level of precision could make drone delivery viable not just for rural clinics, but for apartment balconies and suburban driveways.

Retail Partnerships and Everyday Logistics

Zipline is no longer just serving hospitals. In the U.S., partnerships with companies like Walmart have extended its reach to consumers. In cities like Dallas and Salt Lake City, Zipline delivers groceries and small retail items in 15 to 30 minutes, traveling at speeds up to 70 mph.

Customers can order via app, track their delivery in real-time, and watch as the drone hovers silently, lowers a tether, and gently places the package outside their home.

A Model Built for Scale

Zipline’s impact has been especially notable in Ghana and Nigeria, where it has supported COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution. With aircraft that require minimal ground infrastructure and can fly over rough terrain or traffic congestion, the company has enabled faster, more reliable logistics in regions where traditional supply chains are under strain.

And with its own production and logistics systems, Zipline controls everything from drone design to flight operations—allowing for global scalability and data-driven optimization.