Amazon Drone Delivery still in Works.

Amazon released a statement stating they will still be looking to offer deliveries via UAS, regardless of the new FAA proposals.

Amazon Says FAA Proposals Won’t Ground Drone Delivery Plans

The new regulations are up for discussion for the next few months. Regardless of the outcome, Amazon is expecting it to take two years before these rules are actually implemented.

The main factor which will make or break ‘Drone Delivery’, in the US and UK, is Line of Sight. If FAA regulations stipulate UAS can only be operated a Pilot with Visual Line of Sight, then that stops Amazon, Dominos, Alibaba and so many smaller companies in their tracks.

I don’t expect to see UAV delivery in the UK for at least the next few years. One of the main problems isn’t mid air crashes, as these can be avoided by adhering to UAS height restrictions. I would suggest it will be trying to land safely in a built up residential area that is the difficult part. Overhead phone or electric wires are the obvious concern. What if a UAS lost signal and crashed onto a busy main road or a school, both common place in a residential area. Nothing good is the answer.

This is still a new industry. sometimes its best to walk first. The technology isn’t quiet there yet. ‘Smart Drones’, that can autonomous detect objects and correct course quickly, need to improve…an advanced version of the Optical Positioning system, DJI, have fitted to the new   Inspire 1, could be designed to fulfil this task. Smart Drones of the future is the subject of my new post, so till then…..

TU