Coming Soon to a Front Porch Near You: Package Delivery Via Drone (wsj.com)

After lagging behind other countries for years, commercial drones in the U.S. are expected to begin limited package deliveries within months, according to federal regulators and industry officials. [Editor's note: the link may be paywalled; an alternative source was not immediately available] From a report: The momentum partly stems from stepped-up White House pressure, prompting closer cooperation between the government and companies such as Amazon.com seeking authorizations for such fledgling businesses. The upshot, according to these officials, is newfound confidence by both sides that domestic package-delivery services finally appear on the verge of taking off. Earlier promises of progress turned out to be premature. The green light could be delayed again if proponents can't overcome nagging security concerns on the part of local or national law-enforcement agencies. Proposed projects also may end up stymied if Federal Aviation Administration managers don't find creative ways around legislative and regulatory restrictions such as those mandating pilot training for manned aircraft. But some proponents of delivery and other drone applications "think they might be ready to operate this summer," Jay Merkle, a senior FAA air-traffic control official, said during a break at an unmanned-aircraft conference in Baltimore last week that highlighted the agency's pro-business approach.

Comments

How are they going to address thieves?

[crgrace]

Where I live there are constant problems with people stealing packages from porches and front doors. Seems to me drone delivery would make things even worse because they wouldn't have any way to fight this. In my building, the drivers have our garage code so they can put packages securely in the garage. Seems like this wouldn't be possible with drones.

How is Amazon addressing this?

Security concerns? Gravity concerns.

[MadCat221]

I am against "Drone Delivery" for one fundamental reason: Gravity. If a delivery truck has a mechanical failure, it's just dead on the road No harm done to the cargo. Gravity does not ensue upon my package. If a delivery drone has a mechanical failure, down it goes, and so does my package.

If a delivery truck takes a hit, it'd have to be a pretty seriously heavy hit to damage my package. If a delivery drone takes a hit... All aircraft are designed first and foremost to optimize weight, because it has to work against gravity to even move. It just doesn't have the bulk to sustain damage like a ground vehicle does.

Re:I'm close to an airport

[mark-t]

So you can't even throw an a paper plane legally near an airport?

Re:UPS

[MightyYar]

It's Amazon's fault that you have a pack of social predators in your backyard.

Re:I'm close to an airport

[mikael]

Shhh. Don't give them ideas. They'll throw the book at you and fine you for littering, operating a flying vehicle without a license, without insurance, while intoxicated and failing to maintain an aircraft in airworthy condition.