# 348: Flop Onto the Bouncy Castle

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2020-10-15
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 348
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle

## Summary

Whitney Huang, an embedded software engineer at Zipline, explains the company's fixed-wing drone delivery system for medical supplies in Rwanda, Ghana, and the US. She details the unique launch and mid-air recovery mechanisms, the evolution of the aircraft's communication stack (2.4GHz, cellular, satellite), and the critical role of local operators in maintaining reliability. Huang also discusses Zipline's partnership with Walmart, the challenges of FAA certification, and the company's shift from a startup to a scaling operation with cashflow-positive units in Africa.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle#t=6) Introduction and Zipline Overview
- [3:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle#t=218) Launch and Mid-Air Recovery Mechanics
- [10:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle#t=645) Medical Logistics and Cold Chain Requirements
- [15:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle#t=956) Local Operators and Line Replaceable Units
- [24:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle#t=1479) Communication Stack and Redundancy
- [28:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle#t=1737) FAA Certification and US Expansion
- [33:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle#t=1991) Business Model, Walmart Partnership, and Future Tech

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zipline (company)
- DJI (company)
- Walmart (company)
- FAA (other)
- PixHawk (chip)
- GNU (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 103: Delivering medicine by drone - Keenan Wyrobek](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-12-20-episode-103-delivering-medicine-by-drone-keenan-wyrobek) (Robot Talk)
- [Delivering the future in drones with Keller Rinaudo Cliffton of Zipline](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline) (How I Built This)
- [A look at Zipline's future & the design of the Zip's Droid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-07-a-look-at-ziplines-future-the-design-of-the-zips-droid) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Keenan Wyrobek (Co-founder/CTO, Zipline)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [Commercial UAV update; Product leadership at Bershire Grey with Kishore Boyalakuntla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-09-09-commercial-uav-update-product-leadership-at-bershire-grey-with-kishore-boyalakun) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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