Amazon’s delivery drone program has been marred by a recent incident of two Prime Air drones crashing and destroying themselves on a rainy day, raising questions about the safety of the technology.
A recent incident at Amazon‘s testing range in Oregon, where two Prime Air drones crashed and destroyed themselves on a rainy day, has brought attention to the company’s delivery drone program. The question on everyone’s mind is, why did this happen?
The ‘question on everyone’s mind is, why did this happen?’ is, why did this happen?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed that the drones’ onboard lidar sensors were sending bad readings, causing them to believe they had already landed. This led to the software cutting off power to the propellers, resulting in the crashes.
Drones are complex machines that can fail due to various reasons.
Technical issues, such as faulty sensors or software glitches, can cause a drone to malfunction.
Environmental factors like strong winds, rain, or extreme temperatures can also affect a drone's performance.
Additionally, user error, including incorrect programming or insufficient battery life, can lead to drone failures.
According to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), most drone crashes are caused by pilot error, accounting for 71% of all incidents.
A Glitch and a Lack of Redundancy
According to NTSB documents, a botched software update made the lidar sensors more susceptible to being thrown off by rain. The backup sensors, which were equipped on older versions of the drones, would have likely prevented this from happening. However, ‘a botched software update made the lidar sensors more susceptible to being thrown off by rain’ . The removal of these redundant systems in an attempt to reduce costs has also been cited as a possible cause.
Drones have undergone significant design transformations since their inception.
Initially, they were bulky and heavy, with a focus on stability rather than agility.
Advances in materials science led to the development of lighter, more durable frames.
The introduction of quadcopter designs improved maneuverability and reduced vibration.
Modern drones often feature sleek, aerodynamic shapes and advanced propulsion systems, enabling faster flight times and increased payload capacity.
The removal of the squat switches, which are metal prongs on the bottom of the drone that provide confirmation when it lands on solid ground, has also been cited as a possible cause. The MK27 drone’s software was originally designed to confirm a landing only when two of its three sensors agreed, but this feature was removed in the MK30.
A Shift in Delivery Strategy
Some sources suggest that Amazon may have shifted away from the original delivery strategy of landing drones in customers’ yards with enclosed propellers. This change may have contributed to the problem, as the new system drops packages from around a dozen feet in the air.
Amazon's delivery strategy has undergone significant changes over the years, driven by its rapid growth and increasing customer expectations.
Initially, Amazon relied on third-party carriers for shipping, but it soon developed its own logistics network, including a fleet of trucks and planes.
Today, Amazon offers same-day or next-day delivery to millions of customers through its Prime membership program.
The company's focus on speed and convenience has led to investments in robotics, artificial intelligence, and drone technology to further streamline its delivery process.
The crash is not an isolated incident, and Amazon‘s drone development has been plagued by setbacks. In 2021, a drone crash sparked an acres-wide blaze in Oregon, and many residents find the drones annoying. The project remains years behind schedule, with Amazon only carrying out drone deliveries in limited areas such as College Station, Texas, and Tolleson, Arizona.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of Amazon‘s delivery drones and whether the company is prioritizing profits over people. While ‘the company is prioritizing profits over people’ , it remains to be seen how this will impact the future of drone delivery.
