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After watching Mark Rober's video on Zipline[^1] it'll be really cool to see how their technology works in the US. Hopefully the FAA can approve their operation

by pfych 3y ago

After watching Mark Rober's video on Zipline[^1] it'll be really cool to see how their technology works in the US. Hopefully the FAA can approve their operations. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOWDNBu9DkU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOWDNBu9DkU

chaxor 3y ago
That's very nice and I would like to see it really take off. Do they use the new toroidal propellers for better efficiency and lower noise?
- etrautmann 3y ago
  Wasn’t this only true for water and the air prop versions haven’t been commercialized (or successfully developed) yet?
sgtnoodle 3y ago
Thanks for the shout-out. I've been at Zipline for 7 years and have been working on the new platform for a while. Mark Rober did an amazing job showing off what we've been up to. I agree it will be really cool to see it in operation alongside our longer range vehicle.
- jcims 3y ago
  That video inspired me to get off my ass and start looking for companies to work for who have a mission I'm in love with. It's tough because my specialization (infosec) is mostly valued in industries I don't give a shit about, but a reduction in income to get an increase in satisfaction that I'm supporting something I'm wholly in love with is worth it.
  - sgtnoodle 3y ago
    How about Zipline? :-) https://legacy.flyzipline.com/job?gh_jid=5488460003 https://legacy.flyzipline.com/job?gh_jid=5488460003
    - jcims 3y ago
      Oh dang! I don't think that was there the last time I checked, I just took more or less this same role on an internal transfer where I'm working now. Thank you! Will definitely throw my hat into the ring for this one!
  - q7xvh97o2pDhNrh 3y ago
    How are you thinking about pricing it out? I was just thinking earlier today about the absolute meaninglessness of my Big Tech job — and whether it's even feasible or worthwhile to try and find something better. I have meetings, and many of those meetings are about other meetings. In fleeting moments between calendar chimes, video calls, chat pings, and the flood of email, I code little morsels of SQL or Blub to at least do something interesting. It's tolerable, like all studies in nihilism. But you've got me wondering what it'd be like to work on something I'm genuinely enthusiastic about. I really dislike the notion of taking a reduction in income to get that, though. I can't pay the bills with "meaning."
    - sgtnoodle 3y ago
      I've been lucky to pursue projects I'm well aligned with in terms of both technical interest and mission. Perhaps less attributable to luck, I've also always maintained a high bar for who I associate myself with, and on several occasions I've "laid it all out on the table," confronting people in organizational leadership positions when things are messed up. That's more "grit" I would say. While awkward at the time, so far it's always gone well for me. I've demanded the best, and I've always given my own best. I've gone the extra mile for the company I keep, and I've gotten back the extra mile in return. Zipline in particular has been an overwhelmingly supportive environment to have spent the the last 7 years of my life. How are you all thinking about compensation in terms of salary vs. equity? I've never sweated over salary. Quite the opposite, I've intentionally sacrificed salary in favor of equity. I've taken calculated risks based on "expected values" I learned in school, and as expected things have turned out well. I prefer to own what I'm working on, and I appreciate the power of specialization. In exchange for meeting my high expectations, I've always trusted my current project or company leadership. Our interests are aligned, so it's easy. So far, prioritizing equity has paid off. When I left the self driving car project for Zipline, right before it spun off as Waymo, my manager's manager asked me why I was considering leaving. On top of the exciting technical challenges, I mentioned the calculations I had done. I negotiated an offer that had the same expected value, but Zipline's upside was significantly higher. The manager thought it was crazy at the time. When I took the Zipline offer, It was a solid 25% decrease in salary. 7 years later that manager is at another company; several of my friends that stayed at Waymo are now laid off, and others that weren't have been casually looking for new opportunities. Meanwhile I've been having a blast and only have wonderful things to say.
- foo-bar-bat 3y ago
  Perhaps you dont care but heads up, this comment thread plus the "solar stuff" mentioned previously is sufficient to identify you IRL via LinkedIn. Congrats on your work at Zipline.
MBCook 3y ago
I remember watching that. It was so refreshing to see a “this will change everything” video about a company or idea that isn’t heavily hypothetical. I expect something about drone delivery “in the future” like some of Amazon’s promos from years ago. No, they have a working version. And it’s not just a prototype, it’s pretty heavily battled tested in the real world. AND it’s useful today. Its operation is not subsidized by VCs burning huge amounts of cash. It’s not in use just to use it for testing. It’s doing its actual job in a way that is cheaper and better than the alternatives. In short: it’s 100% real. And I’m excited by the chance we may see it here.
- OnlineGladiator 3y ago
  > Its operation is not subsidized by VCs burning huge amounts of cash. I'm not sure why you think this, but Zipline is running at a loss at the moment and is dependent on VC cash. That doesn't mean it can never be profitable, but right now it is not.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - MBCook 3y ago
    It doesn’t surprise me they’ve got VCs. I was referring more to the model of Uber and some others of just pour hundreds of millions into a hole for a decade until you’re all that’s left and then profit will magically appear.
    - OnlineGladiator 3y ago
      Sure, but just to provide some context, Zipline has already raised (and spent) hundreds of millions of dollars. Also Zipline has actually been around for over a decade already (they started out as Romotive in 2011). Anyway, cheers.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

by pfych 3y ago

chaxor 3y ago

That's very nice and I would like to see it really take off. Do they use the new toroidal propellers for better efficiency and lower noise?

etrautmann 3y ago
Wasn’t this only true for water and the air prop versions haven’t been commercialized (or successfully developed) yet?

sgtnoodle 3y ago

Thanks for the shout-out. I've been at Zipline for 7 years and have been working on the new platform for a while. Mark Rober did an amazing job showing off what we've been up to. I agree it will be really cool to see it in operation alongside our longer range vehicle.

jcims 3y ago
That video inspired me to get off my ass and start looking for companies to work for who have a mission I'm in love with. It's tough because my specialization (infosec) is mostly valued in industries I don't give a shit about, but a reduction in income to get an increase in satisfaction that I'm supporting something I'm wholly in love with is worth it.
- sgtnoodle 3y ago
  How about Zipline? :-) https://legacy.flyzipline.com/job?gh_jid=5488460003 https://legacy.flyzipline.com/job?gh_jid=5488460003
  - jcims 3y ago
    Oh dang! I don't think that was there the last time I checked, I just took more or less this same role on an internal transfer where I'm working now. Thank you! Will definitely throw my hat into the ring for this one!
- q7xvh97o2pDhNrh 3y ago
  How are you thinking about pricing it out? I was just thinking earlier today about the absolute meaninglessness of my Big Tech job — and whether it's even feasible or worthwhile to try and find something better. I have meetings, and many of those meetings are about other meetings. In fleeting moments between calendar chimes, video calls, chat pings, and the flood of email, I code little morsels of SQL or Blub to at least do something interesting. It's tolerable, like all studies in nihilism. But you've got me wondering what it'd be like to work on something I'm genuinely enthusiastic about. I really dislike the notion of taking a reduction in income to get that, though. I can't pay the bills with "meaning."
  - sgtnoodle 3y ago
    I've been lucky to pursue projects I'm well aligned with in terms of both technical interest and mission. Perhaps less attributable to luck, I've also always maintained a high bar for who I associate myself with, and on several occasions I've "laid it all out on the table," confronting people in organizational leadership positions when things are messed up. That's more "grit" I would say. While awkward at the time, so far it's always gone well for me. I've demanded the best, and I've always given my own best. I've gone the extra mile for the company I keep, and I've gotten back the extra mile in return. Zipline in particular has been an overwhelmingly supportive environment to have spent the the last 7 years of my life. How are you all thinking about compensation in terms of salary vs. equity? I've never sweated over salary. Quite the opposite, I've intentionally sacrificed salary in favor of equity. I've taken calculated risks based on "expected values" I learned in school, and as expected things have turned out well. I prefer to own what I'm working on, and I appreciate the power of specialization. In exchange for meeting my high expectations, I've always trusted my current project or company leadership. Our interests are aligned, so it's easy. So far, prioritizing equity has paid off. When I left the self driving car project for Zipline, right before it spun off as Waymo, my manager's manager asked me why I was considering leaving. On top of the exciting technical challenges, I mentioned the calculations I had done. I negotiated an offer that had the same expected value, but Zipline's upside was significantly higher. The manager thought it was crazy at the time. When I took the Zipline offer, It was a solid 25% decrease in salary. 7 years later that manager is at another company; several of my friends that stayed at Waymo are now laid off, and others that weren't have been casually looking for new opportunities. Meanwhile I've been having a blast and only have wonderful things to say.
foo-bar-bat 3y ago
Perhaps you dont care but heads up, this comment thread plus the "solar stuff" mentioned previously is sufficient to identify you IRL via LinkedIn. Congrats on your work at Zipline.

MBCook 3y ago

I remember watching that. It was so refreshing to see a “this will change everything” video about a company or idea that isn’t heavily hypothetical. I expect something about drone delivery “in the future” like some of Amazon’s promos from years ago. No, they have a working version. And it’s not just a prototype, it’s pretty heavily battled tested in the real world. AND it’s useful today. Its operation is not subsidized by VCs burning huge amounts of cash. It’s not in use just to use it for testing. It’s doing its actual job in a way that is cheaper and better than the alternatives. In short: it’s 100% real. And I’m excited by the chance we may see it here.

OnlineGladiator 3y ago
> Its operation is not subsidized by VCs burning huge amounts of cash. I'm not sure why you think this, but Zipline is running at a loss at the moment and is dependent on VC cash. That doesn't mean it can never be profitable, but right now it is not.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- MBCook 3y ago
  It doesn’t surprise me they’ve got VCs. I was referring more to the model of Uber and some others of just pour hundreds of millions into a hole for a decade until you’re all that’s left and then profit will magically appear.
  - OnlineGladiator 3y ago
    Sure, but just to provide some context, Zipline has already raised (and spent) hundreds of millions of dollars. Also Zipline has actually been around for over a decade already (they started out as Romotive in 2011). Anyway, cheers.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]