Drones on Wheels: DC's Newest Delivery Technology
While delivery by flying drone technology has gradually gained acceptance as a probable feature of the future, the fact remains that DC is a no-fly zone. But that doesn’t mean that the nation’s capital won’t see delivery drones on the street.
As WTOP reports, the District will become the first jurisdiction in the nation to permit testing of sidewalk drone technology following a unanimous vote last Thursday by the DC Council. Approval of the wheeled-drone technology was lumped into a budget amendment and will come with several restrictions related to speed, weight, and size. Additionally, any interested company is only allowed to test five drones at a time.
DC residents could see delivery drones on the sidewalk just after the end of the summer. Starting this September, wheeled robots from European firm Starship Technologies will share the sidewalks as they go about their delivery duties.
story continues below
loading...story continues above
Starship’s sidewalk delivery robots are outfitted with several cameras that will help it navigate the streets, an alarm to deter theft and a microphone and speaker to allow a remote operator to communicate in emergencies. The remote operator would also be able to take control of the device, if necessary.
The company’s drones will travel as far as three miles from their home base at a pedestrian-like speed of four miles per hour. Delivery recipients would be given a unique PIN code to unlock the robot and retrieve its contents.
“The robot’s now traveled 4,000 miles in more than 12 countries and 35 cities,” Starship spokesman Henry Harris-Burland. “It’s come into contact with 400,000 people on its travels. And to date, we have not had one incident of theft or vandalism.”
Starship’s pilot testing period, unlikely to involve actual customers at first, will run in DC from September 15th through the end of 2017.
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/drones_on_wheels_dcs_newest_delivery_technology/11408.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
In this article, UrbanTurf will explain what special assessments are, how they work, ... read »
Plans are moving forward at the site of a long-planned project in Ivy City, however w... read »
Nearly 1,400 residential units are on the boards around Union Market, about the same ... read »
Up 8% year-over-year, it is the first time that prices have exceeded $800,000 for det... read »
If there was ever a place where the old adage “one man’s trash is another man’s... read »
- What Are Special Assessments in Condo Buildings and What Do They Cover?
- Douglas Development Pitches Large Warehouse For New City Site Along New York Avenue
- Hotels, A Public Park and The 1,400 Units In The Works For Union Market
- The Price For A House in The DC Area Hit A New High in April
- Tile, Furniture, Appliances & (Much) More -- The Local Warehouse Chock Full of Salvaged Home Goods
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro