Keenan Wyrobek (Co-founder/CTO, Zipline)
Keenan Wyrobek, Co-founder and CTO of Zipline, recounts the company's journey from his early work on the ROS robotics platform to launching autonomous drone delivery in Rwanda. He details the rigorous prototyping process, including failed attempts like stunt airbags and the eventual adoption of an aircraft carrier-style launch and recovery system using fishing reels. Wyrobek emphasizes how deep customer engagement in public health logistics clarified engineering requirements, leading to a focus on reliability and weather-hardened testing over complex features.