The rise in popularity of drones

Drones have become very popular for both businesses and individuals. Photo: IvanRiver, Bigstock.

Over the past few years you have probably heard a stream of stories about unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, being used to take photos from above. As well as being cool toys to take photos with, they are also being used to make deliveries! From Domino’s Pizza delivery to Amazon shipments, this technology has ensured safe and efficient service at its best.

These deliveries were basically tests, designed to gather data and also to attract the attention of customers. Considering all the features, advantages and disadvantages, let us try to narrow down if drones live up to the hype and are indeed one of the coolest gadgets for 2017.

Features

Generally a drone is made of light composite material which helps increase its speed by reducing the weight. You can find various types of drones including different features and adjustments.

Some are equipped with cameras, light sensors, motion sensors, obstacle detection, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), lights, navigation systems among many other handy features. They exist in a broad range of sizes and shapes and can be equipped with various functions.

Drones are quite lightweight and can reach a delivery point with or without a remote. Photo: Phototravelua, Bigstock.

An ideal drone has a base station where it is attached and can be programmed to reach a particular delivery point without any external assistance and with a remote as well. Most of the drone frames tend to be waterproof and have high functioning propellers to ensure their balance and flight.

Advantages

Design

It is designed to carry weight of up to 2.5 kg, and possibly even more depending on the type of design. It has a 16 km radius, is fully functional throughout this range.

Cost Effective

Drone delivery has proven to be cost effective as compared to the road vehicles which are generally used for deliveries. The initial investment can be steep but the potential for long term savings looks promising.

Fuel Efficient

An increase in usage of battery-powered drones to replace conventional modes of transport can help significantly reduce the fuel consumption and large emissions.

Drones are a lot more fuel efficient compared to typical forms of delivery. Photo: JacobLund, Bigstock.

Tracking Method and Service

The tracking of the drone service can be done efficiently by usage of GPS systems. GPS helps the drone track the exact location and ensure timely delivery with high accuracy. Prime Air Drone of Amazon ensures more than 25 deliveries in less than 15 hours.

Flexibility

In addition the main areas of application, drones can also be utilised in engineering, construction and pre-construction work, maritime, aviation, marketing, real estate which include both residential and commercial, insurance, mining, meteorology, utilities, education, and more. Many private companies, government agencies, and other institutions have their own private drones.

Disadvantages

Identification Issues

The major disadvantage of this innovation is with respect to its security issues. It is likely that the delivery drone will employ GPS tracking technology in order to locate and deliver all products accurately.

The drones use their cameras in order to navigate and position themselves accurately. When there is not an available camera extension, the drone maintains its accuracy with the help of various other methods.

They use biometric scanning in order to ensure that deliveries are received by the right customer, and can also use pin codes to verify data. This can make sure the delivery is made to the correct person without any glitches.

There are concerns that the information stored on drones can be easily compromised. Photo: AndreyPopov, Bigstock.

The only issue which arises in this process is that it is hard to store the information of thousands of customers securely. There will be an immediate need for the delivering companies to implement privacy practices.

Natural Issues

Along with the above, there are so many hurdles including airspace congestion and regulations, payload weight, flight-time limitations, to the weather conditions. When we consider such issues, a single car, truck or a van can accomplish much more.

In this phase of technological advancement, in order to manage the profit margins using the drone delivery systems, companies need to ensure the fastest delivery systems. The competition has been built and to maintain position, new inventions and modifications are expected.

When implementing such a system, the initial cost of investment is high and the cost usually needs to be passed on to customers. It is still an open question whether or not customers are prepared to pay extra for the service.

They will ensure delivery within the exact time frame and also with maximum accuracy. Taking a step forward and using drones for delivery is a promising technological development. Look out for the next delivery you receive and it might be a machine with voice note to greet you!

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