Drone company Zipline is expanding into Austin

Catch up quick: The California-based company has operated in Texas since 2025, with drones in Dallas and Houston delivering personal items and food from small businesses and major chains, such as Walmart and Chipotle.

How it works: After customers place an order through the Zipline app, an aircraft picks it up, flies to the customer, lowers the item down on a tether from the sky and flies back to a charging base — all autonomously.

• Zipline has flown more than 135 million commercial autonomous miles "without a serious injury," per company officials.

Follow the money: Zipline announced earlier this year it had raised more than $600 million in new funding to pay for expansion.

• The company's drones also deliver medical supplies in multiple African countries.

What they're saying: The company has been focused on "what would be an inspiring mission," Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo Cliffton told the venture capital news site Sourcery earlier this year.

• "How could we build a part of the sci-fi version of the future we'd be proud to hand to our kids and grandkids?"

The big picture: The expansion is more proof that on-demand drone delivery is maturing, opening up new conveniences for American consumers.