Zipline: Disrupting Logistics with Autonomous Drones

With Intent

Hosts Thamer Abanami and Albert Shum explore how Zipline is addressing critical gaps in healthcare delivery through the use of autonomous drones. Especially in underserved rural areas, where timely access to medical supplies can mean the difference between life and death, Zipline's iterative approach to widening healthcare access has made real impact. The discussion highlights the key elements of Zipline’s success: their culture of ruthless practicality, their focus on simple, cost-effective solutions rather than theoretical perfection, and the role that partnerships with governments, like Rwanda’s, played in scaling their operations.

Key Points

• Healthcare Access Challenge: Over 4 billion people live in rural areas with limited healthcare access, leading to preventable deaths due to a lack of medical supplies.
• Zipline’s Mission: Founded in 2014 by Keller Renaudo Cliffton and Keenan Wyrobek, Zipline set out to solve these logistical challenges by developing autonomous drones capable of delivering medical supplies to hard-to-reach areas.
• Innovative Drone Design: Zipline operates two platforms: Platform 1 for rural deliveries, using fixed-wing drones with a parachute-drop system. Platform 2 for urban areas, utilizing a hybrid drone with precision delivery via a descending “Droid.”
• Rwanda Success Story: Zipline launched its operations in Rwanda in 2016, initially serving 21 hospitals. By 2019, they were delivering 75% of the country’s blood supply outside the capital, reducing blood wastage and maternal deaths.
• Global Expansion: Zipline now operates in Ghana, Japan, the United States, and other countries, partnering with retailers like Walmart and expanding their delivery scope to include retail and various medical supplies.
• Regulation and Equity in Emerging Technologies: The role of regulation to keep pace with technology to avoid unintended negative outcomes and help ensure that underserved communities gain access to these advances, rather than being left behind.

Additional Resources

• IEEE Spectrum: Detailed article discussing how Zipline designed its Droid delivery system
• Zipline’s Website: Learn more about their technology and global operations at FlyZipline.com
• Gates Foundation: Discover the foundation’s work on global healthcare and their partnership with Zipline at gatesfoundation.org
• Leap Design: A catalyst organization to build design capabilities and unlock latent potential in existing networks to promote the well-being of people and the planet Leap.org
• 100 Greatest Designs List: Check out ID’s list of the 100 Greatest Designs of All Time

Institute of Design at Illinois Tech

Discover programs and resources on design and systems thinking.

Subscribe to With Intent for more explorations into how design shapes our world, whether we call it design or not.