Delivering Packages via Drone-as-a-Service (Download)
Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS)1 is what it sounds like. In this case, a company provides a drone to do a specific service, from creating a digital twin of a structure such as a house to providing package delivery. Drones may be autonomous, semi-autonomous, or under remote control depending on the application and service. The advantage to customers is the ability to have drone support without the required infrastructure and training needed to safely operate drones.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working with the industry to make sure that drones take off and perform their duties, e.g., safe and quick package delivery right to homeowners and industry locations, but it brings up many challenges. Currently, most drones need to operate with line of sight (LOS) with respect to their pilots or controllers, and operation over or around people is limited. This tends to limit drone operation to about a mile.