There's been a lot of hubbub about the Amazon Prime Air delivery drones lately. To fill you in, Amazon has been working on a way to get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less in the coolest way possible – via drones that fly through the air, delivering packages that weigh up to five pounds (which covers over 85% of the items Amazon delivers). But the timely announcement hours before shoppers jumped online for Cyber Monday sales, along with some logistical queries, have got people wondering: are the delivery drones science fiction, or are they real?
The advantages of this technology are pretty obvious – having something delivered in less than 30 minutes is pretty speedy. Forgot it's your wedding anniversary? No worries. Simply order your gift online and keep your eye out the window for delivery as you stall for time. There's also the prospect of items being dropped to you while you're out and about. Imagine being out at the beach and ordering a book to read, or even more sun block. However, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of drones for police and government agencies with civilian air space expected to be opened up in 2015. And besides regulatory approval, who would be responsible if the drone crashes, hits a bird, or is shot down and stolen? What effect would bad weather have on this delivery service?
The Green Room Verdict: Yes, there are regulation issues to contend with as well as potential safety concerns, theft and hacking problems. While this has prompted many to call the idea mere 'hot air' to boost Amazon awareness before Cyber Monday, there is a drone delivery system set to launch in Australia next year. Zookal, an Australian textbook rental startup, already has plans to make deliveries via drone through a smartphone app, where shoppers can pick the outdoor location for their drone to visit and track it on its journey. If that goes smoothly, who knows how long it will be before fleets of delivery drones are a common view in our skies.
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