Pros and Cons of Drone Delivery Services (UAV)
Introduction
Drones or often referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a remote controlled and autonomous flying robot, so to speak. These crafty technologically advanced devices uses aerodynamic forces to fly freely in limited range of area. More than that, it can carry a packages useful for delivery services. During the early stages, drones were primarily used for USA military operational purposes, as a system of communications between the two.
However, in 2006, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has offered permits for the first commercial uses of drones. Companies began to sell these devices to average consumers! In 2010 a French company has manufactured the Parrot AR Drone, the first drone that can be controlled via radio frequency and a smart phone. Now it is commonly used by people for a different purpose. The research revealed that almost 110,000 commercial drones currently operate in the United States.
Drones Delivery Services
A delivery drone service is initially used to transport packages, medical supplies, food, and other goods. But now as technology continues to develop and engage in creating ease in consumers’ lives, industries have also transformed and modified. Most of the famous consumer companies have announced to use drone delivery services. In 2020 FAA also made airworthiness criteria for type certification of delivery drones with an aim to initialize commercial operation supplies, food, and other goods.
Amazon Prime, AirZipline, and Wing copter are along with the 10 companies selected for this type of certification. DJI Inc released its Phantom 4 Drone, the first unmanned aerial vehicle or an incorporate machine learning technology that intelligently track objects in place by following GPSs.
Advantages of Drone Delivery Services
1. Costs and Efficiency.
Drone deliveries would translate into a cost-savings process that could reduce expenses for the organization and promote E-commerce business. It can also promote company consumers’ better experience as an automated delivery system also improved efficiency.
2. Timely Delivery Service
Drone delivery promotes the timely delivery of products and the workers will have more time to see the regular operations of the company. And ensure a higher quality of the product being received by their customers.
3. Safe and Environmentally Friendly
Drones delivery offers safe and environmentally friendly delivery. Generally, the companies delivering trucks and vehicles emit so many toxic gases which are very dangerous for human health and the overall atmosphere.
4. Promotes Businesses
Drone delivery promotes e-commerce business which ultimately leads to an increase in employment opportunities. According to a survey, a drone delivery system will create more than 100,000 jobs in the coming 10 years, in the manufacturing and drone operator sector.
5. Safety
Drivers that bring packages to a consumer’s home are assuming a level of risk because of their road-based activities. Drone delivery will minimize that kind of risk and flows.
Disadvantages of Drone Delivery Services
1. Privacy Issues
The most concerning disadvantage of drone delivery is privacy concerns. The consumer company uses a camera for streaming video that allows supervisors of delivery, interrupt the privacy of the customers. The technology serves can also be used by the government or other cooperative companies in the data collection of consumers.
2. Logistical Issues (Theft)
Drone delivery causes huge logistical roadblocks for consumer companies because of the chance and increase of damaged or stolen property incurred in the delivery process.
3. Potential Wildlife Issues
The third and dangerous drawback is for wildlife, such as birds, face higher risks of injuries with the greater number of aerial vehicles.
4. Additional Risk
This risk is another issue that companies must face if they wish to adopt this express delivery option. Anyone could take the drone away at any time by ordering a small product from their preferred e-commerce platform.
Conclusion
Many companies have announced a drone-based delivery system, although they still yet to release details on when it will actually start making large-scale commercial shipments via drone. The delivery drones’ pros and cons are mostly hypothetical at this stage because the technologies we use for this logistics option are still under development.
The addition of drones into the national airspace will not only benefit e-commerce businesses but also industries such as agriculture, public safety, and natural disaster management to meet their challenges. In a more philanthropic manner, generally anticipated that the use of drones for the delivery of medical products and as a means of protecting the environment. This option could become the standard express delivery service for customers who shop online in the future.
