Even with the new regulations put in place last month by the FAA, drone delivery tests are still being done, and even traditional carriers are getting in on it. Shipping giant UPS is officially entering the drone delivery race with a successful real-world test flight last week.
The test was staged as a delivery of urgently needed medicine to a small island off the coast of Massachusetts which is difficult to get to by traditional means. A drone left from Beverly, MA and made its way three miles off shore to the island. The flight was a success and the hypothetical medicine got to the hypothetical child in time to save a life.
Since there was no actual emergency, the purpose of the test was to gather more information on current drone capabilities.
“Our focus is on real-world applications that benefit our customers,” said Mark Wallace, senior vice president of global engineering and sustainability for UPS. “We think drones offer a great solution to deliver to hard-to-reach locations in urgent situations where other modes of transportation are not readily available.”
In order to conduct the test, UPS partnered with the drone company CyPhy Works, which it is a part-owner of. CyPhy created the drone which was fully autonomous and had no pilot. According to CyPhy, the drone weighs 10 pounds, is extremely durable, has night vision, and includes secure communications that the company says cannot be intercepted or disrupted.
This is all a very long way off from a future which may hold drones flying every which way carrying packages and groceries from warehouses and placing them right on your doorstep, but according to drone advocates, that delay has a lot more to do with government regulation that technological setbacks.
In the UPS test for example, the drone was able to fly without any ongoing input from a pilot, but because of the FAA regulations put in place last month, there had to be a certified “pilot in command” in eye-sight of the drone at all times. This meant that in order for the 10-pound drone to carry the 5-pound package, a boat with the “pilot” on-board had to follow the drone the whole way.
Safety advocates have been urging the FAA to regulate drones even further. There is a second rule on its way from the FAA which will set up guidelines for allowing drones to fly over people who are not involved in its control.
Source: truckinginfo, bgr, smallbiztrends, fortune, usatoday, reuters, truckersreport, truckersreport
Max says
with all these drones coming on, the sky is going to be busier than an Atlanta truck stop on a friday night! I can see all those billboards in El Paso now: “Hit by a drone? Let the shysters at dooey cheetham and How get you your fair share!”
Greg says
As funny as that sounds you’re 100% correct but just not n El Paso. Maybe they’ll replace all the 1’s with trucks on them
George says
LOL! In Spanish too “Lastimado in el trabajo?”
mike says
So , how many busterbrown drivers are going to be put out of a job. Their Union should fight this for the sake of all the employees.
Tim says
Not only is your argument dead wrong it’s actually dangerous if you truly value organized labor. Thwarting technology for no other reason than to “preserve jobs” is a perilous and wrongheaded stance for any union to take. Besides that it’s just plain wimpy (and wimpiness is the last thing a union needs).
crapola says
I had this idea with drones 30 years., I live near the border…..
Dan Cook says
This topic is not worth talking about its just plain stupid .period.
Road Jouster says
We’ve made a commitment at my homestead. Should a drone fly low enough over our property, it will be greeted with velocity delivered plastic wads.
Fernando says
Forget about hunting Pokemons, this drone hunting will be more fun and profitable hahaha !!!