The new Zipline drone delivery hub is located on the west side of the Walmart parking lot in Princeton. Bob Wieland/ The Princeton Herald
Three hawks circled overhead as a special drone whirred toward Lois Nelson Public Library. Hovering at 300 feet, the Zipline “Zip” lowered a delivery module called a Droid containing the first aerial delivery by Princeton’s Walmart.
Mayor pro tem Bryan Washington, accompanied by Santa and the Grinch, was on the ground to receive the gaily wrapped package that inaugurated the service on Thursday, Dec. 11.
The drone hub is located on the west side of the Walmart parking lot. The Zip can deliver a 5.5-pound package up to 10 miles from the store, eventually increasing the payload to 8 pounds, said Andrea Koskey with Zipline. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
With an 8-foot wingspan, the Zip can cruise at 70 mph in winds up to 30 mph. An autonomous navigation program directs it to the customer, where it hovers and lowers the droid to dispense the package.
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Bob Wieland | [email protected]
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