Drones could soon be delivering groceries to customers within a 15km radius of Woolworths in the Peninsula Plaza, Woy Woy, pending various approvals.
The weight of the order could total 3kgs which equates to more than 13 packets of Tim Tams in one parcel.
It is the first time Woolworths has looked into setting up a drone delivery service and it is anticipated that the package would parachute down to the customer’s address.
Woolworths Group and Zipline said in a joint statement that they were continuing to review other Woolworths stores within the Central Coast for the initial use of the service.
“Woolworths Group, in partnership with leading global logistics company Zipline, is exploring a faster and more convenient way for customers to receive their groceries,” the statement said.
“Zipline’s fully electric and autonomous drones, known as Zips, would make deliveries from the store directly to customers’ homes.
“Zipline can deliver items up to seven times faster than cars, so not only does it help to save time but also reduces road traffic, and is better for the environment.”
The technology can be used in most weather conditions, including rain and wind, servicing customers located within a 15km radius of the Woy Woy store and delivering orders of up to 3kg.
That’s enough to carry just shy of five loaves of bread, or more than 13 packets of Tim Tams per Zip.
“Community engagement will commence shortly providing an opportunity for local residents to ask questions and learn more about the proposal,” the statement said.
Zipline and Woolworths Group will also find ways to demonstrate drone technology to local STEM students, to help educate, inform and inspire the next generation should the service take off.
If the service receives Council and CASA approval (see original story here) customers will be able to receive a drone delivery by placing an order through Woolworths’ Milkrun service, which can deliver an order created from more than 10,000 grocery products in an average of 33 minutes.
Woolworths Group is Australia’s largest retailer with more than 200,000 employees.
Zipline designs, manufactures and operates the world’s largest autonomous logistics system that is used every day by businesses, governments and consumers.
Zipline operates on four continents, has flown more than 100 million autonomous kilometres, and has delivered millions of items since 2016 (including more than 14 million vaccine doses).
The company currently completes an autonomous drone delivery every 70 seconds on behalf of businesses like Pfizer and Walmart, health systems like Cleveland Clinic and government agencies like the UK’s National Health Service.
Zipline’s average flight time when delivering for Walmart in Arkansas is three minutes.
Zipline drones emit up to 97 per cent less CO2 emissions than a combustion engine vehicle.
Merilyn Vale
RELATED STORY: Grocery drone deliveries on the way