Recent reports from Bloomberg and Axios demonstrate that the potential of electric aircraft is not only already realized but also set to rise significantly as autonomy spreads to the skies. These accounts teach us that there are obstacles to be overcome before widespread adoption of drone delivery is possible.
WHERE DRONES ARE AT THIS MOMENT The unfortunate reality is that although the technology is almost there, it still makes more sense to summon a delivery driver using widely used applications if you need something locally delivered reliably and affordably. We just weren’t able to make the change.
Currently, a drone licensee’s only option is to fly in their direct line of sight or that of a designated observer who can interact with them. The drone must not only be visible as a dot in the sky, but it must also be possible to determine its orientation without using telemetry or the drone’s cameras. These restrictions are beneficial for things like aerial inspection and real estate/architectural photography, but they make it very difficult to carry out tasks like deliveries within a quarter mile or so.
Why does the FAA restrict drone use in this way? Considering that pilots must be able to observe and steer clear of other aircraft. It is practically impossible to take any action to avoid collision with something like an EMS or police helicopter if you can’t see your own drone and the sky around it.
The gives us not only an idea of what its like to test drone deliveries under current rules, but what efforts are underway to improve regulations and technology for drone deliveries Bloomberg article.
In Christiansburg, Virginia, Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), employs drones to deliver small packages. Not only is there a pilot in charge at the launch/landing location, but there is also an observer perched atop a neighboring hilltop, keeping a watchful eye on the drones from afar. By doing this, the FAA regulations are always obeyed, and the designated pilot has the authority to take control or perform an emergency landing if the situation becomes potentially dangerous. But most of the drones are automatic.
They don’t have to share the skies with anyone from that town, and that is the only way this can function. There aren’t hordes of autonomous drones operated by various corporations flying all over the skies doing deliveries and performing other commercial activities autonomously, albeit a drone operator might show up and take images of a property or a medical helicopter might occasionally appear. Additionally, there aren’t any eVTOL autonomous manned aircraft in operation, as there eventually will be.
Regulators must therefore figure out how to make this all work without making disaster or damage the norm.
The Axios article tells us about some drone delivery trials at Walmart stores . Deliveries are being made to two establishments in Northwest Arkansas, complete with a tiny foldable tower that allows passersby to see the drones in action. Deliveries are only possible up to a mile from a Walmart outlet due to FAA restrictions.
However, they are still useful. Deliveries are offered from 8AM to 8PM for $3.99 and can weigh up to five pounds. Future delivery possibilities in other states, including Florida, Virginia, Utah, Texas, and Arizona, are being planned by Walmart’s partner DroneUp.
HOW NASA AND THE FAA ARE PROGRESSING INTO THE FUTURE HERE Technology that enables manually operated drones, automated drones, eVTOL craft, and anything else in the sky to cooperate securely faces a number of obstacles. The technology and software used by the variously manufactured drones and eVTOL craft must all be able to communicate with one another. A system like today’s air traffic control, where humans track a small number of aircraft operated by other humans over vast distances, will quickly become unable to handle thousands or millions of craft.
Computer simulations are currently being done by NASA and the FAA to try to determine what such a congested aerial environment may even look like. This will not only highlight the technological requirements needed to handle it, but it will also shed light on possible regulatory requirements for such a bustling society.
Unmanned drones will likely fly below 400 feet at this time, while passenger drones and air taxis will fly between 500 and 5,000 feet. Most conventional passenger and cargo planes would attempt to travel above 5,000 feet away from cities with large airports in order to allow space for the taxis below. To promote safety, this would at least provide some form of segregation in aviation traffic.
However, even such separated areas can fill up rapidly. It would probably be necessary to create virtual lanes and allocate different craft types to different tiers of height above the ground in order to move around securely. Additionally, crucial deliveries and work related to public safety would have to take precedence over things like meals and requests for beers.
What will be socially acceptable was a different issue covered in the article. It’s already annoying when you’ve been out having fun or working on a Friday night, then your industrious neighbor decides to start their weed whacker at seven in the morning. Will people be ok with loud propellers flying above them at all times? Can you make them quieter? Will some individuals detest the constant presence of objects in the sky?
In Christianburg, where the epidemic was at its worst, it worked out well, and people appreciated having the option of drone delivery accessible. However, it remains to be seen how it performs elsewhere.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT On the surface, it is straightforward to just say, “Hang a package from the bottom of a drone and send it someplace,” but there are many factors to take into account first. What about safety? Can you afford it? Is it going to be popular? Will it irritate a lot of people? How can I be certain that the inquiries I’ve made before are accurate?
Testing continues, and we will probably arrive to the correct solutions. However, there will still be a delay.
DJI provided the main photo.
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