从天而降-无人机送货
未来如何 无人驾驶飞机 出现在1989年上映的《AG平台》中. 快进 27年了，这样的未来似乎并不遥远. 遛狗的无人机 have moved from the silver screen to the cul-de-sac (that poor, poor dog). 我们使用无人机的另一种更有效的方式是 for the delivery of lightweight goods. There is no shortage of companies working to bring this technology from the concept stage to offering it as a standard service.
In late 2013, Amazon unveiled their Prime Air concept in a 60分钟访谈, promising doorstep delivery of your lightweight Amazon package by drone in 30 minutes or less. 当时, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos optimistically predicted Prime Air would be available to hit the skies in 4 to 5 years. It’s been two-and-a-half years since the interview, and Bezos’ prediction may be on point. 在第一架Prime Air航班起飞之前, 然而, regulations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) will need to be hashed out by all participating governments.
避免明显的架构 与 利乐建筑师和规划师 see the movement of goods by drone as an opportunity to reduce pollution and traffic in Shenzhen, 中国. The goal is to remove all transport trucks from roads in the area, which they expect would lead to a dramatic reduction in pollution and congestion. 作为他们公路设计计划的一部分, 所有车辆将在封闭的高速公路管道内, 旨在控制污染, while the air space above the highway tube will be designated for drone delivery vehicles.
The concept for a Mercedes Benz-Matternet drone delivery service. 图片: Matternet
In early September 2016, Mercedes-Benz, in partnership 与 American startup Matternet, 发布概念车 that proposes to change the way companies execute last-mile delivery. The van acts as a mobile warehouse which houses a fully-automated cargo management system. This system brings packages to one-of-two fully automated 无人驾驶飞机 that are docked on the roof of the electric vehicle. The 无人驾驶飞机 are able to transport anything under 2 kilograms/4.4 pounds to destinations up to 20 kilometres/12 miles away. 多亏了这个整体的输送系统, the driver will be able to make her/his deliveries in a fraction of the time. 点击这里观看宣传视频.
While there are many exciting drone delivery technologies in development around the world, 你已经可以叫外卖了 上海无人机, 如果你住在北美或欧洲的话, it will be some time before you have your next package dropping from the skies in your backyard. 在福布斯.com的文章， ARC的Rick Rys说， ‘欧洲仍在制定无人机法规, making it difficult to start commercial drone operations there. 在美国，无人机的使用仅限于视线范围. 这意味着像亚马逊这样的公司, 谁探索过用无人机送货, 不能使用FAA第107部分规则. Amazon and others will now find it all but impossible to use 无人驾驶飞机 for fulfillment until drone traffic control is developed and the FAA figures out how to regulate that.’ 直到这些规定最终确定, 你将不得不依靠老学校, 可靠的地面输送方式.
**封面图片由 Matternet
