Australia Post has moved one step closer to being able to deliver parcels to even the most remote Outback locations.
Ever since the organisation announced last year that it was to investigate using drones to make difficult deliveries, grey nomads have been wondering how it might eventually affect their travels.
Now that Australia Post has actually begun official trials of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), the once impossible dream of grey nomads having birthday gifts from home dropped off at remote campsites in the Kimberley or Cape York may yet become a reality.
Trials in an enclosed, fenced-off field will continue for another two weeks and, if successful, Australia Post will apply to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for a trial of parcel deliveries to customers.
Australia Post chief executive, Ahmed Fahour, said the drone was still in the very early stages of technology but he believed over the next five to 10 years there would be ‘an enormous amount of change’.
“We will put this innovative technology through its paces over the coming weeks and months to understand what it can deliver, how far it can travel, and ultimately, how our customers could receive a parcel,” he told the Australian. “While we’re not sure what role the drones will play in our future, we do think there are opportunities for time-critical deliveries or where there are significant distances between the road and the front door.”
If the closed-field trial is successful, the next phase will see parcel drivers take a drone with them to customers who have agreed to participate in the trial. The drone will be used for the final part of the delivery, such as taking the parcel over a locked gate.
The Australian reports that the prototype drone can carry up to 1.2kg, and is being tested for short length flights of 15-20 minutes, or approximately 15 kilometres.
Australia Post stressed safety was its priority and its drone had a parachute, lights and sirens to warn people if they get too close.
It also has a video system to allow operators to monitor the landing environment for hazards.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority recently amended regulations to ease approval processes for certain unmanned aircraft.
* Would you like to see drones able to deliver packages to remote campsites?
If the drone relies on GPS I can distort it’s location by transmitting pulses in the 1.5GHz frequency range – thus imitating GPS satellite signals- and hijack it in mid air.
Just sayin’