Drones have recently been featured in the news in many different ways. There are many companies that are turning to drones to provide innovative ways to deliver products to consumers. Recently, 7-Eleven made headlines for just such a successful test.
For the first time, several lucky customers got to experience the joy and novelty of having 7-Eleven goods delivered to their doorstep via drone in Reno, Nevada. This test occurred in November and was an astounding success. All of the users involved in the trial reported positive experiences and confirmed they would love to continue using the service in the future.
7-Eleven is enlisting the help of the startup drone delivery company Flirtey for this process. The company is not a typical powerhouse you would come to expect in the world of drone transportation. Instead, they are a small company that is working closely with regulators in an attempt to beat their competition.
7-Eleven is not the only large company that Flirtey has worked with. They also began delivering Dominos pizza around the same time via drone in New Zealand. Based on its unique success, 7-Eleven and Flirtey are hoping to expand their drone delivery service area sometime in 2017.
Drone delivery is beginning to catch on with many other large companies. Recently, UPS began testing drone delivery as a means to help reduce costs while enhancing customer experience. Currently, UPS is focusing on developing drone delivery technology for reaching remote service areas.
Chipotle is another large company that ran a recent drone delivery test. Their test only lasted a few weeks and they worked with Alphabet to deliver products to students at Virginia Tech. It was a dream come true for any college kid and went through without any hiccups. However, there are still limitations that are holding drone delivery back from mainstream use.
For one, drone technology itself is still in its infancy. Drone delivery companies are limited by things such as battery life, thrust capability, and payload capacity. Fortunately, there are several developments that are helping to advance the industry.
Batteries are being developed that provide enhanced longevity and decreased charging time. Intelligent Energy recently developed a prototype Hydrogen fuel cell that offers enhanced trip duration and reduced charging time. Limited cargo capacity is another issue.
Thankfully, there are more and more drone options becoming available that support heavier payloads. Freefly has developed a drone that is capable of takeoff with up to 40 pounds of cargo. These enhanced payload capabilities are helping to make drone delivery a more viable option.
Perhaps one of the greatest hurdles drone delivery companies are facing is regulatory in nature. In the United States, the FAA has been moving very slowly to develop rules to keep up with the explosive popularity of drone use.
They released their first actual rules on the subject in June 2016. These rules are the first of their kind to help establish base guidelines for safe operation and utilization of drones. Unfortunately, these rules fall short of what drone delivery companies need to succeed.
One of the new rules requires that the drone remain in sight of the operator or someone in communication with the operator at all times. This is an obvious issue that drone delivery companies are having to work to overcome.
In addition, drone operation is only permitted during daylight hours. This is a huge drawback for those who were hoping to receive late night pizza deliveries in the near future. The FAA also requires all drone operators to undergo an aeronautics test every 24 months and a background check by the TSA.
Unfortunately, these current rules are still far too strict for drone delivery companies to thrive. Fortunately, the FAA is working individually with companies like Flirtey to allow small scale testing to take place.
Thankfully, companies like Flirtey are showing that drone delivery options are a viable and valuable service. They are working with the FAA to help develop the framework necessary to ensure a productive and safe environment. Unfortunately, we do not currently have an exact timeframe as to when these types of agreements will be reached.
As the technology continues to advance, we can look forward to receiving goods from just about anything from Amazon to Walmart. We just need to exercise patience and offer support for this innovative and unique last-mile delivery approach.
