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Amazon Drones Drop Packages From 10 Feet!
18 Apr
Summary
- Amazon's Prime Air drones are reportedly dropping packages from significant heights.
- Customers have shared videos showing smashed goods due to rough drone deliveries.
- A debate exists on drone safety, with Amazon favoring onboard sensors over broadcast systems.
Amazon's ambitious Prime Air drone delivery service is encountering significant issues, with reports indicating drones are dropping packages from approximately 10 feet above the ground. Videos shared online show items, like a plastic bottle of syrup, being unceremoniously dumped, leading to breakage and leaks upon arrival.
This raises concerns about the reliability and safety of the autonomous delivery system. A former Amazon executive highlighted a debate in drone technology regarding safety protocols. One approach involves ADS-B systems for broadcasting drone locations, while Amazon advocates for onboard "detect and avoid" sensors, similar to ground robots.
Amazon recently departed from the Commercial Drone Alliance, which supports the broadcast system. The company's preference for onboard sensors aims to mitigate hacking risks associated with unencrypted broadcast signals. However, the effectiveness of onboard sensors alone in complex, three-dimensional airspace remains a point of contention, mirroring challenges seen with ground-based robots.
