Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing, discusses creating 'lego pieces' for automated mobility services. Topics include transition from aircraft design to drone technology, human involvement in robotics, adapting core capabilities for partners, efficient package delivery with drones, and navigating approval processes for strategic expansion.
Wing views drones as components, not main focus, designing a modular system for adaptability.
Operational in Australia and DFW, Wing plans scalable growth through airspace compliance and strategic expansions.
Wing's user experience integrates with partners like DoorDash, allowing customers to choose drop-off locations.
Deep dives
Architectural Decisions Reflected in the Drone Business Model
Architectural decisions in the autonomous drone delivery system emphasize that the drone is just a part of a broader machine, not the focus. By treating the aircraft as a component rather than the main feature, hard strategic decisions were made early on to ensure a holistic approach. This approach aligns with a Lego-like design philosophy, assembling 'bricks' to fit various partners' needs, highlighting the adaptability of the system.
Evolution of Wing's Operation
Wing initially operated within cooperative airspace requirements, listening for broadcasted traffic signals to detect other aircraft, ensuring safety. Currently operational in Australia and DFW, Texas, expansion plans include scaling up to serve millions of homes, focusing on airspace compliant regions. The company's regulatory strategy involves establishing extensible approvals based on wider area coverage rather than specific coordinates, allowing for scalable growth.
User Experience in Drone Delivery
The user experience of ordering drone deliveries involves integration with partners' marketplaces like DoorDash and Walmart. Customers opt for drone delivery during checkout, with an additional step to select a drop-off location within the service area. The process mimics typical e-commerce flows but includes a unique feature of choosing a specific spot for drone drop-offs.
Scaling Criteria and City Selection
Selection of new operational cities considers critical factors such as airspace compliance, population density, merchant distribution, and property suitability. Targeting suburbs with adequate visibility for drone deliveries, Wing analyzes technical solutions for various delivery challenges, focusing on high-population areas initially before expanding to specialized urban and rural delivery strategies.
Future Focus and Growth Strategy
Wing's growth strategy centers on scaling up operations in regions like DFW and Australia while expanding to new cities through partnerships with marketplaces like DoorDash. The company's approach of integrating with existing workflows, focusing on optimal delivery zones, and adapting the system to different locations positions it for sustainable growth and widespread adoption.
Exploring Regulatory Compliance and Technical Innovation
The podcast hints at the complex aspect of regulatory compliance and technical innovations required for drone delivery operations, a topic ripe for in-depth discussion. Leveraging detective-avoid systems, adapting to unique delivery challenges, and scaling operations in compliance with spatial constraints are key areas of interest for future exploration.
Incubated inside Google's X project and now deploying in the real world, Wing is an aerial drone delivery company with some interesting parallels to another of Alphabet's "other bets" the gang regularly discuses: Waymo. But, as CEO Adam Woodworth explains, Wing also provides a very different look at how one engineers automated mobility services at a system level, focused more on creating "lego pieces" than specific vehicles. He joins the show to explain Wing's strategy, the unique challenges it faces, and lessons learned along the way.
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