Communications of the ACM
Drones Are Poised to Reshape Home Design
A rethink of home design may be needed to accommodate remote drone delivery.
Credit: Michael Parkin
A rethink of home design may be needed to accommodate remote drone delivery, which could reconfigure entire neighborhoods to establish designated drone airspace and traffic patterns.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has granted limited delivery permission for drone units from Amazon, United Parcel Service, and Google parent Alphabet, clearing a path for commercial drone service—although seamless at-home delivery remains elusive.
Chicago's Valqari startup is developing drone-delivery mailboxes whose top functions as a landing pad, while the drone activates a retractable door so packages can be safely stowed.
Meanwhile, retail giant Walmart has submitted a patent application for a delivery chute mounted onto an apartment building for depositing drone deliveries, when then are transported to the mailroom via conveyor belt.
Mario Schaarschmidt at Germany's University of Koblenz-Landau said at-home drone deliveries could become routine, "but only if the first deliveries with drones go smoothly. If you experience any problems, people won't accept them."
From The Wall Street Journal
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