Package Delivery Drone from Amazon?

Amazon recently announced that they have begun testing the next generation of package delivery – the octocopter. Named for their eight propellers, the drones are about the size of a remote-controlled airplane, and are designed to deliver plastic bins (about the size of a shoebox) to residential customers.

The announcement came on the heels of the Federal Aviation Administration’s release of a roadmap for integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into U.S. airspace. The latest guidelines cover non-commercial use such as law enforcement, fire, and national security on a case-by-case basis. We are still a few years away from an FAA ruling regarding commercial uses of drones.

But don’t be looking for octocopters to be landing on your doorstep. If the FAA allowed Amazon to use drones to deliver packages, they would have to allow all companies including Wal-Mart to do so as well, which would quickly fill urban skies with thousands of drones. Because of environmental, safety, and privacy factors, the FAA’s near future ruling will only allow limited commercial use for drones in populated areas. Agriculture is a good example of a non-urban application that will most likely be allowed.