5 Most Pressing Problems With Drone

The 5 Most Pressing Problems With Drone Delivery

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm looking forward to drone delivery, which might be ideal for Uber eats if it wasn't for the problem of cold air blowing on the food the entire transit time. Still, there are several things that will need to be addressed before most of us will have drones dropping off our packages.

I'll explain and then close with my product of the week, a book this time. It's one that every person interested in the history of Silicon Valley should read: 3Com. This is the story of the first Silicon Valley dragon and how it died.

1. A DRONE MAILBOX

We currently have a huge problem with theft when people deliver our products. Crooks typically watch for the delivery guy to drop off the package, wait a few minutes, then help themselves to the package left on your porch.

With drones you'll be able to see where they are going from some distance. They'll need to drop on an open area like a driveway where the package will be visible from the street (if there isn't a back yard) and they'll need to avoid lawns due to sprinklers. For places where there are lots of trees, for apartment buildings, or in dense city neighborhoods, there just may not be a safe place (other than a roof) to place the package.

2. WEATHER IMPACT

Delivery vehicle drivers must work in most kinds of weather. However, when it is really hot the air density drops, reducing dramatically the lifting capacity of aircraft (including drones). When it is really cold, energy capacity for electric vehicles drops like a rock.

In addition, drones will be dangerous in the snow, fog and rain (particularly with lightning), so those conditions generally will be no-fly weather. High and gusting winds also are problematic. Weather patterns suggest there will be a lot of areas and times during the year when drone delivery just won't be practical.

3. DRONE ABUSE

People already are shooting down drones. There are a lot of people with too much time on their hands who think up of new and creative ways to do damage.

Whether we are talking about people shooting these things down, sending up other drones to mess with them, or just trying to hit them with stuff they can throw, keeping drones from being destroyed will be problematic.

Aside from mischief, this would be one way to gain ownership of the drone's payload (I'm actually anticipating drone pirates at some point). The firms using drones will need a better way to determine if the drone is at risk and to bring anyone who purposely damages one to justice.

4. A DRONE'S RANGE

Batteries remain the weakest link on any electric solution (most of the proposed new drones are electric). The weight and size, or aerodynamics, of the product being delivered will have a huge adverse impact on the drone's range, making it critical to consider these issues before the drone wanders off on its way.

Range changes a lot with heat, cold and various weather events. A headwind, for example, will cut into a drone's range dramatically, not to mention wind that exceeds the drone's top airspeed.

5. POWER LINES

The visual sensors being used in autonomous vehicles have improved a lot, but they still aren't very good in all kinds of weather or with small objects. Even people have issues with seeing powerlines in low light or when the sun is in their eyes.

Power lines are above ground in many areas and historically have been a huge problem for helicopters, but even some planes have hit them. Planes are at risk only for the huge power distribution lines, but drones will have to deal with the far harder to see municipal power lines.

Granted, as long as they keep to vertical takeoff and landing and move horizontally only when they are up 100 feet or more, this problem largely could be eliminated, but they also are going to have to fly around trees, between buildings, and during various wind events, all of which could bring them into contact with power lines. It won't be enough to dodge the big ones, as a lot of homes have power lines running from them to power poles.

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