Interesting article on the emergence of drone delivery in China. With fewer regulatory hurdles to overcome, Chines drone delivery is being explored by a number of companies.
SF Express is testing a drone it has built for delivering packages to remote areas, according to Chinese media reports. The drone can hit an maximum altitude of 100 meters (328 feet) and deliver parcels within two meters of its target. It’s not clear what sort of weight these puppies can handle, but Beijing journalists calculated that it probably can’t carry more than 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds).
My favorite is the specialty bakery using drones to deliver cakes (see video below). They did get shut down for not getting the proper permissions, but not before they got some valuable experience.
The idea of drone delivery certainly has engendered a lot of strong feelings in people. Some folks embrace the possibilities, want to see what can come of this, while many others see only roadblocks (and they may be right). Personally, I see an ocean of possibility here. Even if the logistics prove impossible in certain, even most, situations, I still think there will be plenty of problems where drones might be the perfect solution. Delivery to remote sites seems like one starting point. Or delivery from one secure location to another. If point-to-point proves too difficult, drones could be used to connect two depots on opposite sides of a large city, where the start and end-points are controlled and bikes used to go the last mile.
The one thing that doesn’t click for me is the thought that this is impossible and not worth exploring. I say, bring on the impossible. It just makes us better.
The one instance where I think this can’t happen soon enough is delivery of perishable medical supplies, or just medical supplies to remote areas in times of need. As the crow flies is fastest way of delivery and with a drone, cost and turnaround should be cheaper.
Exactly! Especially for victims in mountainous areas or earthquakes where traditional transport may be near impossible. A drone carrying lifesaving medical supplies can mean the difference between watching a person perish or keeping them alive long enough for help to arrive.
However, on the flip side, there are a lot of privacy concerns involving an ever-present “eye in the sky” where you can’t control where the footage end up. As with almost all new technology, if applied ethically, it can be amazing. If falls into nefarious hands, it can be a nightmare. Still can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
Indeed, lots of good uses for this technology. Nefarious is in the eye of the beholder – I bet the U.S. military has offensive plans worked out already, while at the same time stressing over an attack by swarming drones.