The Future of Long-Distance Drone Package Transportation

Are you aware of the new regulations coming up in the US and elsewhere for things like Remote ID and the technology for drone traffic management beyond Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)? The new Remote ID rules are set to be promulgated tomorrow, requiring all drones larger than 250 grams to have it when they go into effect in 2023. There's another set of rules coming along in the next few weeks or months for the tech and systems to facilitate operations beyond VLOS.

If you're interested in the rule making process, simply google terms like 'FAA Nprm Remote ID' or 'FAA Nprm tech beyond visual line of sight' to see the notices of proposed rule making and the intense debate over them by stakeholders. These rules affect both FAA Part 107 for Small UAS and Part 135 for Air Taxi. The 107 apply to drones smaller than 55 pounds, but Part 135 applies to aircraft generally less than 12,500 pounds. The FAA is retooling their aircraft traffic control systems to accommodate smaller and larger drones, ensuring safe mixing with piloted aircraft. The big carriers like UPS would like to see the rules for transport category aircraft amended so they can turn big planes and helicopters into drones to carry freight.

Overcoming Regulatory Challenges

All this is making drones like the ones discussed possible. We've had the technology to do what you're asking about for a long time now, but what's been missing are the regulations and systems to do it safely. Those rules are coming along now, and I believe we'll sooner or later see what works and what doesn't. There are dozens of manufacturers waiting for the new regulations and as soon as they're promulgated, they'll be building drones compliant with them.

A Sneak Peek into the Future

For the past couple of years, the FAA has been granting provisional waivers from Parts 107 and 135 to companies that prove they have the infrastructure to operated drones safely beyond VLOS. Companies like Google Wing, Zipline, UPS, Fight Forward, and Amazon Prime Air have prototypes working under the waivers. When the new rules are out, anybody who buys compliant drones and gets their operation certified will be able to do it.

Drones on the Move

Verizon already has their new Skyward system for drone traffic management, and others like AirMap and Kittyhawk will be releasing theirs soon. These innovations are paving the way for the next generation of long-distance drone package transportation. Autonomous drones are becoming more prevalent, but unless you're a technology enthusiast who constantly watches drone news and forums, these developments might go unnoticed.

As regulations evolve and technology advances, the potential for drones in delivering packages over long distances is enormous. It's an exciting time in the world of drone technology, and we can expect to see a lot more innovation and practical implementations in the coming years.