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The Walmart at Rayzor Ranch has partnered with drone delivery service Zipline to transport products to customers starting on March 26, Zipline Community Engagement Lead Zach Hill said at a March 23 delivery demonstration.
What’s happening
During the demonstration, a Zipline drone delivered fishing supplies to Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth at the Northlake Recreation Center.
The drones can deliver orders up to five pounds in a 2.5-mile radius around the Rayzor Ranch Walmart, Hill said.
Each drone flies and hovers around 300 feet in the air, which is below the limit of planes and helicopters, and lowers the products on a tether to the delivery location. Customers can submit their orders through the Zipline app, which tracks the delivery status and provides an estimated time of arrival.
There is currently no charge for the drone delivery service, but Hill said it’s unlikely to remain free forever.
The Rayzor Ranch Walmart is the company’s 20th delivery partner in Dallas-Fort Worth and the 21st site in the United States, Hill said. The Walmart site can support up to 20 drones. Currently, Zipline has about eight drones attached to the site.
Some background
Zipline engaged in community outreach before launching the drones and allowed residents to observe the drone operations at the Walmart site.
“It’s a new technology and we want to make sure everyone is comfortable,” Hill said.
Zipline has also partnered with food vendors like Buffalo Wild Wings and Chipotle to provide food delivery by drone.
Looking ahead
Hill said the company plans to increase the drones' carrying capacity from five pounds to eight pounds by the end of 2026. Hill added the company is trying to make 100 deliveries on the March 26 launch day.
