Zipline blood delivery drone applies for US trial
Source：BBC
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Los Angeles
Update Time：2018/07/16
Drone delivery firm Zipline has unveiled a new type of aircraft that it states, will be able to make 500 deliveries per day.
Zipline’s main operation is their commercial service for delivering blood supplies in Rwanda.
This new type of drone weighs 20kg (44lb) and can carry 1.75kg of cargo. It can also drop its delivery into an area of about the size of two compact parking spaces.
The firm has now applied to take part in a trial being organized by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
The UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Integration Pilot Program is a partnership between local governments and the commercial sector.
The list of projects chosen for the trial will be finalized on May 7th.
It has multiple motors so that if one malfunctions, the drone can continue to fly.
The drone not only has a whopping top speed of about 128 kilometers per hour (80mph) but can also make a round trip of 160km (99 miles). Blood supplies are packaged inside small boxes attached to paper parachutes.
Keller Rinaudo, Zipline's chief executive, said the Silicon Valley firm had redesigned its entire system, including its distribution centers.
"The new aircraft and distribution center system we're unveiling today will help Zipline scale to meet the needs of countries around the world - including the United States," he said.
In 2017, Zipline has planned to continue and expand its service to include that of Tanzania.