Zipline announces new delivery drone that precisely lowers a tethered 'droid'

Posted by r_o_b_o_t on Wednesday March 15, 2023 @03:00PM
from the theverge.com dept.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/15/23639425/zipline-drone-delivery-autonomous-tether-droid

( 5 comments | 5 points | on HN )

Re:Zipline announces new delivery drone that precisely lower... by ortusdux on Wednesday March 15, 2023 @03:16PM (#35173344)

I wonder if Amazon has done anything with their delivery drone "mothership" patent. I seem to remember talk of supplying merchandise to large events.

https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/29/14114190/amazon-patent-d...

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Re:Zipline announces new delivery drone that precisely lower... by dreadmocks on Wednesday March 15, 2023 @03:10PM (#35173255)

From a controls perspective, controlling a drone while tethered to a mini drone in potentially high winds is quite impressive

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Re:Zipline announces new delivery drone that precisely lower... by r_o_b_o_t on Wednesday March 15, 2023 @04:42PM (#35174431)

Agreed! It looks like the droid can only move up and down via the winch so if there was a big gust of wind it seems like the mother drone would have to react very quickly

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Re:Zipline announces new delivery drone that precisely lower... by sgtnoodle on Wednesday March 15, 2023 @10:14PM (#35177348)

Thanks! I'm one of the engineers at Zipline.

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Re:Zipline announces new delivery drone that precisely lower... by oakwhiz on Wednesday March 15, 2023 @04:32PM (#35174328)

Can things be called "droids" without jeopardizing yourself to trademark lawyers?

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