Things to consider when bringing drones into your shipping business

The future of logistics could change forever if the continued work of using drones as a means of transportation is successful. Using drones to deliver your packages and cargo might seem like a far-fetched idea, but in Indonesia, one of the biggest airlines is seeing the possibilities that it can bring them. With ongoing testing to make the drones fully autonomous, rather than remote-controlled, this advancement in technology that started as a hobby could bring about positive change to your shipping business.

Drones do more than just fly and provide an aerial photograph; they are an economical purchase that will help the planet. And with more and more pressure on companies to be aware of their environmental impact, onboarding drones within your business could reduce your carbon footprint, increase efficiency and appeal to more customers.

Here are some things you need to know about drones so that when you are ready to implement them into your business, you are ready for success.

Power source: How does a drone work?

Drones are made of lightweight material to increase the ability to move with ease through the air and now come in a variety of sizes, but they all require the same source of power: a battery. While there are developments for other sources such as solar power and hydro fuel cell, batteries are the most reliable, as long as you use the right type. Sourcing a supplier of foils for Li-ion batteries will ensure fast re-charge properties and high power, which means you can power the drones for longer. High-quality batteries such as these are necessary to have when using drones as part of your logistics business.

The speed: How fast will it deliver the goods?

A drone is allowed to fly up to 100 mph. This is the speed limit set by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The FAA do not permit a drone to fly above this speed, and, naturally, you can see why these regulations were put into place. Before they were considered as a tool for businesses, drones were first a popular gadget for many across the world for personal use. Setting the limit of 100 mph was a safety decision for all those involved using them, but the shipping industry is working alongside the FAA to bring about safe change so it would be possible to travel at a faster speed to deliver goods. If the FAA revise these changes, the potential for increasing the speed and weight of the cargo being carried will shape the shipping industry forever.

The destination: Who will be there to wait for the cargo?

Packing the cargo and sending it across without human interaction will require careful thought into who will be there at the other end to wait and unload the shipment. Having a team at every location is one way to solve this, but a quicker and more efficient solution is to send the cargo directly to the consumer. Although this may take some convincing for your more traditional customers, the benefits from doing so help both you and them, as you save money and time unloading, and your customer receives their goods faster due to the direct drop-off.

Conclusion: Drones will be the future

The more time that is put into researching ways to improve drones for shipping, the more the industry could see drastic change coming their way, but for the better. There will need to be more consideration surrounding communications and sensors so that the flight is smooth, but the future of drones within all industries looks to be a bright one, the shipping industry included.