Amazon was widely reported last week its plans for the use of drones for supplies. Many believe that it is possible, but there are still a number of challenges.
The first Amazon must accomplish in order to deliver the goods with drones is to get the technology in place.
Many suspect that Amazon’s gambit last week was more about PR than about technology because Jeff Bezoz statement on drones in the television program 60 Minutes happened to coincide with the large nätshoppingdagen for gadgets in the U.S. – Cyber ??Monday.
It is clear, however, that technology reached a long way. Amazon is not alone. A number of companies are already working on similar plans.
There is everything from start-up time Matternet planning an infrastructure of drones in Africa, and Drone Deploy developing commercial systems with drönarteknik, to Australian Flirtey to be fly out textbooks to students, and courier giant UPS experimenting with drones for packet transport.
The biggest technical problem companies are grappling with the range and payload capacity. Jeff Bezos mentioned a range of 16 km and a payload capacity of 2.2 kg for Amazon’s service which has the working title of Prime Air.
There are already small drones similar in style to Amazon showed – helicopters with three to eight rotors – which can carry several kilos load, but the flight time is then about ten to fifteen minutes and reach only a few kilometers. What is needed for longer range is a significant technical leap in battery technology.
An alternative solution from Matternet based on automatic battery changes at charging stations.
next problem is safe flying. The navigation itself works today relatively well with autopilot, satellite control and other sensors. What needs to be developed is small and powerful system for detecting and avoiding local obstacles. The craft must also pass flying various weather as high winds, rain and hail.
Another problem involves threat to spacecraft. Amazon needs to find ways to defend against drones attempted theft and vandalism, including the risk of shooting down. Many people question whether it is possible to deliver directly to a villa garden, which Amazon shows in his presentation video.
Alongside technology and security are questions about the rules. In the U.S. investigates aviation authority FAA issue of commercial use of drones on behalf of the U.S. Congress.
regulations for smaller unmanned aircraft is expected to be completed in the first version sometime in 2015. The schedule, however, contains many steps and it is not yet certain when certification can launch.
Probably the regulatory framework will require technology to detect and avoid other aircraft speed.
Such technology is required Transport Agency in Sweden in order to be able to fly unmanned aircraft out of sight (regulation TSFS 2009:88). In Sweden, the otherwise private use basically unregulated, while the commercial use of radio-controlled aerial vehicles require a license.
As Ny Teknik reported previously, however, control over the compliance with regulations in Sweden virtually nonexistent.
addition to all this there is public concern for surveillance and for intense drönartrafik can become distracting. Jeff Bezos says that 86 percent of all packages shipped from Amazon meets the requirements of maximum 2.2 kg, which most corresponds to more than 13 million packages a day. And the FAA estimates that there may be 30,000 small drones in the air in the United States around 2020.
Here is Amazon’s demonstration of the technique:
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