The idea of using drones to deliver packages is not a new one, in fact, Amazon has also advocated drone-only lanes in the airspace, and this is a good idea since you have folks shooting drones down due to an “invasion of privacy”. Well, the FAA themselves have their fair share of stuff to say before drone deliveries become commonplace and are approved, and here we are with a proof of concept video that shows off drone delivery – done right, I must say. The Workhorse Group intends to perform drone package delivery with a slight variation in its method, as it will use an electric truck that has wireless charging capability alongside a drone that can carry up to 10 pounds, allowing the delivery driver to go to places which are rather difficult to access.

Basically, the operator of the delivery truck will go about their normal rounds, although the drone comes in handy when it handles the less convenient deliveries. This delivery is done by navigating autonomously, although it will first need to scan a barcode for GPS coordinates. As it descends, it will turn on cameras while alerting the operator, so that the operator can look out for potential dangers like dogs, children and other hazards. Once done, the drone will make its way back to the truck, and the dynamic duo will continue on as planned. Of course, if successful, this will not be the first legal drone delivery in the US, but it will be far from the last.

Filed in Robots. Read more about . Source: spectrum.ieee.org

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