Automation can't deliver packages either, lol
> UK regulators also fast-tracked approvals for drone testing, which made the country an ideal testbed for drone flights and paved the way for Amazon to gain regulatory approval elsewhere.
Eg i imagine if they made drones for a package weight of, say, 10 ounces, they could.. hopefully, make smaller drones and perhaps have an easier time with regulations. However the package size limit is so small that the drones aren't likely worth it.
So as we increase package weight, we include more packages and percentage of sales... but also increase drone size and regulatory issues.
I imagine there isn't a "sweet spot" otherwise they would have done it. Nevertheless i'm curious what that axis looked like.
There's some talk of autonomous software being granted a pilot's license, so that might shift things again.
Trying to apply those rules to drone deliveries while ignoring those two pretty fundamental elements doesn’t strike me as evidence that the FAA is being arbitrary or capricious.
When you're risking your own life, you'll likely be at least somewhat careful.
When you're just flying an empty test vehicle you'll be much more reckless, and thus way more likely to crash it on other people's property or other people.
Hence, much more tightly regulated.
But they have limits:
No passengers allowed.
No flying over towns or settlements.
No flying at night or above (or in) the clouds.
No flying in airspace around airports with control towers and certain other airspace without prior permission.
No commercial operations (for hire) except instruction.
Ultralights must yield right-of-way to ALL other aircraft.
Only token demonstration projects in the US, unfortunately.
Amazon is in the business of delivering bulky and heavy packages, often of low value and importance, and poorly-but-cheaply packed into oversized cardboard boxes. I can't imagine a very large percentage of Amazon deliveries would be in any way suited to drone delivery, especially when you've got to limit it to destinations with a suitable landing/drop zone, within a certain range of a depot but away from dense urban areas (too high-risk to operate in)
That doesn't eliminate rapid delivery of small packages as a business model, but it really constrains what is worth shipping using a drone that can carry a couple of pounds.
And I think the current ~$15-20/delivery price for Zipline is too high to be terribly practical for most items, but in a rush (and given 24/7 availability), it's absolutely worth it. I can think of many personal instances where a $15-20 delivery charge would easily be worth it to trim hours off of delivery time.
I think at this point it's likely safer (i.e. to pedestrians, etc) than delivering the same item via truck. I really do think this has a future, and I'm glad that they've reached a sustainable level of operations in Rwanda and Ghana.