It seems like every other day, we read about companies testing drone deliveries in various parts of Australia. At least that’s what it feels like — these articles keep appearing on a daily basis. Drone deliveries are still in their infancy but they have the potential to revolutionise the way we shop and how we get our parcels from one place to another.
But before drone deliveries can be used for commercial purposes in Australia, there are some regulatory issues that need to be ironed out first. Let’s take a look at what is stopping drone delivery systems from being used right now, and some possible alternatives you can use instead as a starting point.
What is currently preventing drone deliveries in Australia?
One of the biggest issues preventing commercial drone deliveries in Australia at the moment is the fact that you need an operator’s license to fly drones. This isn’t much of a problem in the academic sphere, or in disaster management situations where drones are used to survey areas or assist in search and rescue.
But for the average consumer flying a drone to deliver a few packages is too risky and not something most companies want to get involved in. The licensing issues are in place to govern the risk associated with drone use. Drones are unlikely to cause any damage to people or property when operated in controlled conditions. With that in mind, it is tough to see how drone deliveries can be used at this point in Australia.
Home-based deliveries
If you are looking for an alternative to commercial drone delivery services, home-based drone delivery services are a great alternative. Many home security companies offer drone delivery services to customers as a way to make deliveries to customers who have a limited mobility due to their home being too hazardous for a human to enter.
These delivery services are currently available in a few parts of Australia and are gaining popularity. For now, they are only available to those customers who live in the parts of the country that allow the use of drones for residential deliveries.
Road side deliveries
Another alternative you can use when it comes to drone delivery in Australia is road side delivery — a service that has been available for quite some time now. Companies like Roadstar and Pura, who both operate in Australia, use on-road drones to deliver parcels to customers’ front doors.
This means you don’t need to be home or be able to go out to meet your delivery person. You can simply have your parcel delivered to your front door step, regardless of where you are located. This is another great example of how drone delivery is being used in a different way, and possibly even more effective than the commercial use of drones. However, road side delivery is currently only available in a few parts of Australia.
Conclusion
Drone delivery is expected to become a popular service in the future, but there are a few regulatory issues preventing it being used in Australia at the moment. Home-based delivery services are becoming more and more popular, and are an excellent alternative to commercial drone delivery. While road side delivery is currently available in a few areas, it is expected to grow significantly in the future.
If you are interested in using drone delivery systems in Australia, you should be aware of some of the issues currently preventing this from happening. And if you would like to find out how drone delivery is being used in other parts of the world, you can read more about it in our article Drone Delivery Systems: Where They Are Used.
