Last mile delivery: The Latest Cutting Edge Innovations
Demand on the last mile delivery innovating technologies has significantly grown in the past decade. It seems that drones, self-driving vehicles, and delivery robots will change the nature of urban life. Logistics industry has been using self-driving vehicles and robots in secure indoor locations such as warehouses and container yards for several years. Now it is time to implement the same approach for the last mile delivery in urban areas.
It is obvious nowadays that the e-commerce market is replacing traditional players and means of transport for last mile delivery has to be more efficient and timely. Such statements as “next or same day delivery for online order” for megapolis is in the past. New advanced algorithm and data analytics made possible to test and implement revolutionary solutions for operational efficiency toward fast and flexible delivery.
“One day seeing Amazon drones will be as common as seeing a mail truck.”
- Jeff Bezos, CEO, Amazon
Amazon is the most extraordinary example of a retailer that can arrange its own delivery. The company announced a future delivery system, designed to safely get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less using small unmanned aerial vehicles, also called drones. Google Wing affirms that they will start delivering services via drones in 2017 . Walmart has requested the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for privilege to test drone delivery.
At the same time, current policies and regulations affect the ratification of the new technologies. As an example, drones have many advantages compared with traditional delivery, but safety regulations consider them as trespassers when they fly above a person’s private property. Present Aviation Administration’s regulations require operators of drones weighing more than 250g (0.55 pounds) to get a license, forbid from flying over the people, and require operator to control the safety of the drone.
Do they really pose a risk?
For instance, as one of the evidence we could consider results that the researchers from George Mason University calculated for probability of airborne wildlife striking an aircraft to identify if drones could cause any risk for airspace. They used data from FAA and bird census data. The researchers conclude, “There is an acceptable risk to the airspace.” Therefore, current FAA tough regulations affects the core idea of innovating technologies such as efficiency, accessibility, and what is more important fast adoption. However, let’s be optimistic and remember how Heraclitus summed up nicely, “Everything changes and nothing stands still.”
