[RichieAHB]

For others interested in how these Sparrow (“Platform 1”) drones operate:

- Cruises at 80-120m and 60mph

- Max payload of 1.8kg

- 50 mile max delivery distance (although it can fly 190 mile on a single charge)

- Payload dropped by parachute from 25-30m into a 5m diameter landing zone.

More details on Wikipedia[1] and the Zipline site[2]

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zipline_(drone_delivery_comp...

[2] https://www.flyzipline.com/technology

[silviot]

They parachute deliver blood, but they will use a different technique for consumers.

From their website:

> Lowering from the body of the Platform 2 Zip, this little droid uses onboard perception to leave packages exactly where they're supposed to go, whether that's a doorstep or patio table.

[RichieAHB]

While that is true for Platform 2 drones, from reading this article [1] it seems the ruling currently only applies to Platform 1 drones (ie. the specs I was referencing). Although it does seem like the Platform 2 drones would be more of what you’d imagine for drones dropping consumer packages in the US. And that article goes on to state that this ruling seems like a jumping off point for securing further exemptions (ie for the Platform 2).

[1] https://dronedj.com/2023/09/19/zipline-earns-faa-bvlos-exemp...

[martincmartin]

The FAA release is very short, only 3 short paragraphs. The third sentence is:

Zipline is an FAA-certificated Part 135 operator and will use its Sparrow drone to release the payload via parachute.

[throwfaraway398]

With these specs, I wonder if some countries military wouldn't be willing to offer them more money than they could ever make with deliveries... (At least on a per-drone basis)

[fragmede]

1.8kg isn't much of a payload, nor is a 5m diameter very accurate for military use.

[mambru]

https://www.engineering.com/story/can-swarms-of-cheap-drones...

[concordDance]

The most important number isn't in your list: noise level

That's what really needs solving for mass drones to take off.

[lathiat]

They actually solved that. Watch Mark Robers video at 13m50s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOWDNBu9DkU&t=830s

However this FAA approval is apparently for the Gen1 fixed wing plane (which is quieter than a drone anyway). Their Gen2 "drone" design is barely audible.

[mardifoufs]

I'm pretty sure Uber is now profitable. Not surprising considering the absurd prices they now charge for delivery. (probably not absurd w.r.t actual cost, but very very far away from the prices that they were charging when they started Uber eats)

[amelius]

And what's the computer platform they use on board?

[system2]

Standard brick weights about 2 kg (4 pounds). Plus the drone itself probably another 2 lbs. Imagine getting bonked by a malfunctioning 6 lbs. drone at 200 mph.

[XorNot]

This device though doesn't have the density of a brick, and it is aerodynamic: failure modes wouldn't be an uncontrolled freefall, it would be a stable glide.

You could fail-safe this by adding parachute pyrotechnics which require an active command signal to not deploy: that way the worst case total electrical failure of a drone would immediately deploy chutes to slow it down.

This seems like a much more acceptable control then the failure mode of a car: which weighs 2 tons and contrary to popular belief only stays on roads by convention.

[crooked-v]

That's already more or less a solved problem with consumer drones: outside a catastrophic mechanical failure like a wing shattering or the motherboars spontaneously dying, the failure state is that the drone either returns to its starting location using GPS, or hovers and waits for manual control until its battery is almost out and then slowly descends while beeping loudly.

[Gasp0de]

This is the most disgusting comment I have read on the internet in a while.