A future look at the technology of autonomous delivery

Nobody knows for sure where the future of any field may be, but we can still help shed light on where things are going. Regarding package delivery, the future looks high-tech, with autonomous delivery moving to the forefront. This brings uncertainty, skepticism, excitement, and anticipation to others. The more we can help paint the picture of how things will be, the better-prepared people will be.

“We have reached a place where consumers want things delivered better, faster, fresher and cheaper,” says Dan O'Toole, founder and chief executive officer of Dronedek. “Getting the most for the least is what it’s all about. Paying less, not having to leave, having the quality and freshness, right now, is where we want to be.”

Autonomous delivery will help the field get to where people want it to be. They want a system that is affordable, safe, reliable, and that works. Far too often, people have their packages go missing from their front porches. It's a massive problem pushing even the skeptics to consider alternatives.

According to O’Toole, things will significantly change for the good as the autonomous delivery paradigm is set to launch. Here are some points he offers to keep in mind regarding the future of technology in autonomous delivery:

· People may be skeptical, but they must be open-minded and try it. With the introduction of any new technology, the societal default always seems to be skepticism and doubt. Autonomy is no different. Technology and the ways of doing things have evolved, or we'd still be delivering packages by horse and buggy.

· Most of the concerns that consumers have about autonomous delivery are unfounded. Some problems people have involve loud drones, people shooting drones out of the sky, unmanned vehicles creating accidents, etc. The truth is that the sound of a drone is only evident at a lower altitude. As for shooting a drone, federal laws will take care of this, making it a stiff crime that nobody wants to contend with.

· While people are concerned that autonomous delivery costs people jobs, they forget that there is a significant labor shortage around the country. Technology can help fill the gaps and keep things moving if there are not enough people to hire for the more traditional positions. More jobs will be created through this green technology than will be lost.

· Autonomous delivery will improve safety around the country. Both aerial drones and unmanned autonomous vehicles have significant operational time under their belts and have proven safer than manned operations in the same scenarios.

· Autonomous delivery is better for the environment. For example, with every 1% of shipped items being delivered autonomously to a Dronedek in the US, we will take 3,000 trucks off the road. The domino effect of that is staggering. That means fewer greenhouse gases, road repair, lower fuel costs, fewer accidents, fewer injuries, fewer deaths, lower insurance costs, etc.

· Smart mailboxes, such as the Dronedek model, will have to be used, so people have a secure receptacle. They accept delivery via autonomous means, such as drones or robotic devices, and traditional United States Postal Service or other human delivery personnel. Their platform is considered agnostic, meaning that it welcomes all shippers and deliveries and is regarded as the "mailbox of the future."

" I am so optimistic about the future," adds O'Toole. " Better, faster, fresher, cheaper are all metrics that deliver on the promise of autonomy."

Dubbed the "mailbox of the future," the device will help people send and receive packages securely and safely and provides privacy. Dronedek has raised $7.1 million, helping to bring the receptacles to market and launching pilot programs. The company has also recently announced several new partnerships across its MaaS (Mailbox as a Service) ecosystem, including drone provider Vayu Aerospace and network provider Helium.