We used to have to wait– for film to develop before we could see a photo, for banks to open before we could withdraw money, in DVD rental store lines so we could watch a film. Not anymore. The age of instant gratification is here, and with instant streaming, instant downloads, and instant sharing comes the desire for instant products. Thirty minutes or less worked for pizza and Chinese food. Can it work for corn chips, tennis shoes and car parts?
The buzz is drones. Developed initially for observational use, and used today by our armed services, drones have become widely available on the open market. Anyone can have a drone of their very own, and for many, these unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, seem like the perfect solution to the problem of keeping delivery staff on hand. Drones aren’t challenged by traffic, sleepy drivers, or staffing concerns. Unmanned and unregulated, drones don’t have to follow work schedules or traffic laws.
But when Amazon.com announced a future for same-day delivery via dronecopters, logistics experts expressed concern. Can drones abide by no-fly zones? If an Amazon Delivery Drone hits a pedestrian in the head or goes through a car window, is that covered by insurance?
Call us logistics-obsessed, (because we are,) but if safe routing practices and eyes-on operators are needed, drones may not be the same-day shipping miracle that they seemed to be at first. Consider the team of Georgia early-adopters who purchased a drone and tried to deliver cigarettes and cellphones to friends in prison. Using binoculars to ensure the drone’s safe arrival, they were able to watch from afar as prison guards spotted the device and took it down.
Yes, I think it’s going to be a while before drones are ready for the big time. Until then, it looks like most shipments and deliveries will remain in the hands of logistics professionals. But I must admit– it would be nice to have the Domino’s Pizza Domicopter show up on my doorstep with two large pepperoni pies. There’s a joke in there somewhere, but it’s probably too cheesy. So, instead of droning on, I’ll leave you with this:
Look for the pie in the sky this weekend,
~Bob
