Chipotle and Zipline test Zipotle drone delivery in Rowlett

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced a pilot program with Zipline to deliver meals by drone, marking a notable step in autonomous food delivery. Beginning this week, select customers in Rowlett, a Dallas-area suburb, will be able to order Chipotle through the Zipline app and have their meals carried by autonomous aircraft known as Zips. The service, branded Zipotle, aims to shorten delivery times while expanding access to Chipotle’s menu in places that are difficult for traditional couriers to reach, such as backyards and parks. Initial flights will operate in the Dallas area from a Chipotle location on Lakeview Parkway, with service hours proposed to extend from midday into the evening.

How the Zipotle process works is straightforward. After placing an order in the Zipline app, Chipotle staff load the finished meal into a Zipping Point container. A Zip drone then autonomously picks up the order, flies to the destination, and hovers about 300 feet above ground. The drone lowers the food to the ground with precise control, avoiding obstacles along the way. The initial payload limit is 5.5 pounds, with plans to raise it to 8 pounds, enabling a broader range of orders to be carried in...