Amazon Prime Air, Potentially Redefining Retail Delivery Methods
This past week CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, created quite a stir with his announcement on 60 Minutes about the potential use of unmanned arial drones for quick delivery of small packages. However, to Amazon this is much more of a reality then we may assume. A quick Google search will bring an abundance of articles, blog posts and even videos of test flights of what appears to be already designed and functional drones. Apply named Amazon Prime Air, the delivery system is said to guarantee 30 minute or less delivery.
Reception of this news appears to have many varying views and opinions, some calling it futuristic, some comparing it to the drones seen in movies like Terminator and others simply laying out reasons why we should be careful when exploring this new technology. I personally think this could be a very interesting direction in which companies could move, giving the ability to expedite delivery, not just of packages but of your regular mail from the post office. Being the giant that it is, it is no surprise that Amazon is the first out of the gate with this idea.
However there are many initial problems that must be faced, first and foremost those regarding FAA regulations. The FAA has made statements that it is actively taking steps in the direction that would make this a reality. Additional concerns could range from how the drones react in severe weather (just imagine driving down the road in a storm and out of the sky falls a miniature helicopter). As these will be unmanned, there is also the potential for the operating system to be hacked, the drone to be stolen and a number of other scary scenarios.
So say it all plays out, and in two years we see these little buggers zipping across the sky, what's next? Will neighborhoods have the ability to purchase one for a neighborhood watch? Will this create the potential for extreme invasion of privacy by creepy old men in trench coats? What if police departments want to equip them with inferred cameras to seek out criminal behavior? I think there is a lot of good that could come out of this future enterprise, but there could also be a lot of bad that comes with it, and it could become an easily abused power. If you are interested in this more, Click the link below to see Amazon's video via Youtube, and please share and comment your personal concerns with this technological advancement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98BIu9dpwHU