Chasing modern technology, several more startups and leaders' thoughts will take steps to develop the necessary drones for delivering goods over long distances. Is this true where the launch of drones used to deliver goods?
For several years, Amazon has been discussing the idea of delivering drones to specific locations; although they have yet to realize the idea. Start-up company Volans-i began delivering packages via drones to hard-to-reach areas such as the Bahamas, and UPS recently began working with Matternet in a lab drug delivery test program. However, the launch of the unmanned aerial vehicle, Natilus, takes several more important steps, developing unmanned aerial vehicles with ultra-high jet engines, similar in size to the Boeing-747, designed to transport tons of cargo across the ocean.
Even at this early stage, unmanned delivery is already a big business. According to The Insight Partners, in 2018, the global market for unmanned logistics and transportation brought $ 24 million in revenue. According to their forecasts, by 2027 the market will grow to $ 1.6 billion.
The driving forces behind unmanned cargo technology go beyond mere interest in the technology itself. In recent years, the global supply chain has come under the weight of outdated processes amid rising costs and rising consumer demand around the world. The World Shipping Council states that 90 percent of all cargo is transported worldwide in sea containers transported by cargo ships, but one trip from China to New York by ship can take up to a month. Air transportation can reduce this trip to 14 hours, but the current cost of transporting a cargo container is more than three times the cost of sending it by ship. On land, the vast majority of cargo is transported by truck, but truckers are expensive, and there are not many who want to.
Many people believe that cargo drones will lead to much faster delivery times with much lower labor costs, which will lead to lower costs and an increase in the number of customers.
The FAA has introduced strict rules on unmanned aerial vehicles, and regulators are reluctant to allow widespread use of unmanned aircraft for delivery until their long-term safety is proven. However, many are confident that these problems will be resolved over time.
Cargo drones - the future of shipping? This remains to be seen. However, the technology has already been introduced and is likely to remain. One thing is certain: this conversation is just beginning.
