The old becomes new again

California based company Robomart is hoping to begin an on-demand grocery service. The service would be provided through an app and delivered by a remotely controlled truck. The buyer would meet the truck street side, open a door with the app, and retrieve their purchase. This may sound futuristic or a new angle on grocery delivery. But is it? Of course, remote-controlled trucks roaming the streets and ordering through your phone are, but not grocery delivery service. Ask your parents or grandparents. Depending on the reader maybe you already guess what I mean. 

MIlkmen

Dairy delivery by “milkmen” began to fade in the U.S. in the 1970s. Driven by stay at home moms who didn’t have access to transportation or grocery stores during business hours, the milkman was a necessity. Fresh milk, butter, and eggs delivered on a predetermined schedule. But as women joined the workforce in greater numbers and began driving their own vehicles the need for home delivery faded. In some areas of the country, milkmen have again begun roaming the streets. Once again built on necessity, some are finding it more convenient to have dairy products delivered.

In cities like Baltimore, Arabbers, up until recently, would walk horse-drawn carts through the streets selling produce. Pronounced Ay-rabber, from the 19^thcentury defining the homeless who wandered the streets selling small objects. People knew the Arabbers schedule and made their daily purchase of fresh items. In cities and rural locales, street merchants would go street-to-street selling merchandise or offering services such as cobbling, repairs, and knife sharpening, People could stay at home and have food delivered to their door. What a concept, huh? Over time, as grocery and department stores began to emerge in neighborhoods and people became more mobile the street vendors began to disappear. 

What a concept

The street vendor or home delivery of groceries is not a new concept. How the merchandise is delivered is the new twist. In addition to drone delivery of packages, Amazon is also working on its own robotic delivery service. Robomart doesn’t call their delivery trucks robots or autonomous, because they are operated by humans in real time remotely. Amazon's small cooler sized robots are being tested to navigate neighborhood streets using sidewalks. They will be deployed from nearby distribution centers and carry packages to homes. FedEx is close behind Amazon in robotic delivery of packages. In February 2019 FedEx unveiled an autonomous robot that will handle “last mile deliveries. The robot is designed to handle any terrain and climb stairs. Delivering your package to the front door. Currently, FedEx has partnered with Walmart and Pizza Hut to test the robot.

While technology is thrusting us into the future the new is being applied to the old. While our grandparents may not understand all the newfangled gadgetry, they would recognize milk being delivered to their door.

License to drone

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a…a… a drone. That distinctive buzz. That speck of an object in the sky, hovering, but moving slightly side to side. The popularity of flying quad copters or drones has been growing in recent years. Everyone’s heard their use for package delivery, surveillance, but they are fast becoming popular for small business promotion and an enjoyable hobby for those interested in remote control flight. As the enthusiasm grows so do sales. The FAA expects the 2.5 million drones sold in 2016 to grow to 13 million by 2020. Commercial operators could purchase another 10 million.

FAA Regulation

Popularity translates to higher percentages of a drone encounter. They are being flown in congested areas that provides for the opportunity for interference with air traffic, power lines, buildings, and crowd gatherings. Most of the larger drones have the ability to attach cameras. Which brings up the issue of privacy. Congress, state legislatures, and the FAA are scrambling to get a handle on regulating drones without trampling on citizen rights and the hobby level user. To ensure the safe operation of drones in regards to nefarious use and poor decisions the FAA released Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) regulations in 2015. These rules for drone operation were updated in 2016 and include licensing and registration requirements.

Since the requirement for drone registration 760,000 hobbyists registered approximately 1.5 million drones. However, the registration rule was recently challenged in court. The rule required hobbyists with drones weighing between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds to register their drones with the FAA. On May 19, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C. ruled that the FAA could not make that requirement as it violated the FAA’s own Modernization and Reform Act passed in 2012. The plaintiff successfully argued that the FAA “may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft”.  The FAA is considering its appeal options, one of which is Congress taking action on the issue.

FAA licensing requirements

So. Who needs a drone license? First, the difference between recreational purposes and commercial. The FAA defines recreational as flying for enjoyment- not for work, business purposes, or for compensation or hire. If you’re being compensated the use is probably under the commercial category in the eyes of the FAA.

From the FAA-

Recreational flyers are not required to obtain a pilot certificate but may if desired. If your drone is more 0.55 pounds it must be registered with the FAA.

Basic operating rules are:

• Fly at or below 400 feet
•  Keep your UAS within sight
• Never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports
•   Never fly over groups of people
•  Never fly over stadiums or sports events
•  Never fly near emergency response efforts such as fires
•  Never fly under the influence
• Be aware of airspace requirements

To fly commercially there are different levels and requirements. Basically, the pilot must be licensed and the drone must be registered.

Commercial pilots:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Must pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test
• Must be vetted by TSA

Commercial operating requirements:

• Class G airspace
• Must keep the aircraft in sight (visual line-of-sight)
• Must fly under 400 feet
• Must fly during the day
• Must fly at or below 100 mph
• Must yield right of way to manned aircraft
• Must NOT fly over people
•  Must NOT fly from a moving vehicle

This was a synopsis of FAA requirements. Visit the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)-FAQ site for complete details.