Zipline delivery drone docks, charges by itself

Zipline has unveiled its new autonomous drone platform, designed to provide accurate everyday delivery to homes in the U.S., including in busy residential areas.

Zipline’s previous delivery system worked by parachuting parcels into a specified area. Now the new drone, dubbed Platform 2 or P2 Zip, sends its goods down to customers via a tether released to a target location as small as a patio table or porch steps.

The new design can carry between 6 and 8 pounds of goods and features propellers to help it hover and remain stable even in wind or rain. According to the company, the new platform delivers up to seven times faster than traditional automobile delivery, completing 10-mile deliveries in around 10 minutes.

Each P2 Zip can also fly up to 24 miles from dock to dock, charging at each one before collecting its next delivery.

The new platform also includes docking and charging hardware that can either be attached to a building’s exterior or as a freestanding structure. When the drones return from a delivery, they automatically dock themselves on the platform, releasing their empty load and collecting a new one.

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