Drone Delivery System in Japan

The Evolution of the Internet and the Need for Fast Delivery


The evolution of the internet is rapidly advancing. Whether shopping online, ordering supplies and food, purchasing gifts, grocery shopping, or shipping personal and official packages, the customer space is heavily dependent on fast, reliable, and convenient doorstep deliveries. The market and demand for delivering goods fast are massive. As Bristeau, Callou, Vissiere, and Petit note, online shopping, logistics, and shipping businesses, as well as non-commercial operators, are heavily relying on supply chains to ensure fast, efficient, and reliable deliveries. To bridge the gap in the need for speed in these sectors, there have been significant developments in the utilization of drones for delivery. Drones, according to Bristeau, Callou, Vissiere, and Petit (2011), allowing increased delivery times, accelerated accuracy, and reduction in human costs that are associated with delivery. All these reasons lead me to believe that drone delivery system should be adopted in Japan.

The Definition and Applications of Drones


A drone, as defined by Fahlstrom and Gleason (2012), is a relatively smaller in size aircraft technology that operates without a human pilot on board. It is either controlled through a remote controller or autonomously. Drones have for many years been adopted by the military for delivery, surveillance, and search and rescue missions. Japan, like other countries of the world, can utilize the drone delivery system for quick delivery of supplies like medical packages, especially to remote areas that are sometimes inaccessible (Fahlstrom, & Gleason, 2012). For example, if an accident occurs or a patient with cardiac arrest requires fast attention and there is no paramedic within the vicinity, drones can be employed remotely to deliver supplies and also enhance communication between medics and individuals on site. In addition, drones can be adopted for delivery of materials that are required fast in production plants and other industries. One must not forget the importance of drones in delivering farm supplies and surveillance of crops as highlighted by Bristeau, Callou, Vissiere, and Petit (2011).

Critics' Concerns and Counterarguments


Critics of application of the drone delivery system argue that the average cost of transporting a drone, calculated in per pound/volume, is higher compared to other options due to the high energy requirements (Information Resources Management Association, 2016). Therefore, rail and ship transport are relatively cheaper. However, as Bristeau, Callou, Vissiere, and Petit (2011) argue, the critics rarely consider the speed of delivery achieved by drones. Even with the high cost of energy requirements, enterprises can counter the high cost through economies of scale. A drone will deliver many goods and, therefore, the cost is spread along many items. This technology is unlike a ship or a train that will carry many goods at once and yet take much longer before deliveries arrive. Personally, I would rather receive one item that I can utilize immediately rather than have to wait for months for many goods that will eventually bring in similar amounts of revenue.

Safety, Privacy, and Environmental Considerations


Critics are also worried about the weight and number of items that a drone can deliver at any one time. Consequently, the number of drones in the airspace will be high and there is the risk of accidents and collisions into buildings and other resources like power lines. However, with proper implementation of rules, regulations, and pilot licenses, this problem should averted the moment drones take off for delivery (Japan aviation directory, 1900). In addition, technology is still evolving and, with time, there will be creation of advanced drones that can carry heavy materials.

Another issue that critics seem to highlight is the issue of noise pollution and privacy. Drones, according to Fahlstrom and Gleason (2012), are fitted with cameras that enable the controller to view the journey from one point to another. As it cruises through its path, it is likely to take images of private residences and organizations and, therefore, compromise their private space. With the rules and regulations implemented by the Aviation Authorities, this should be less of a worry, as the paths taken by drones will be restricted to specific areas (Keengwe, 2015). In addition, pilots will be under the authority of the aviation authorities and, therefore, will face charges for such offenses. According to UAS Vision, Dotterel Technologies recently developed noise reduction technology for drones (Keengwe, 2015). Their prototype reduces the sound emitted by a drone's engine, therefore, reducing drones' impact on noise pollution.

The Advantages of Drone Delivery Technology


The drone technology is one of the newest and innovative technologies in the 21st century and it can be used in every sphere of human life. The technology can be applied in areas that are impassible, especially in the delivery of food and medical supplies. Drones can traverse intricate and difficult terrains with relative easiness and also take shorter routes when required (Stolaroff, 2014). This characteristic is unlike the one for airplanes, trucks, trains, or ships that have to stick to specific laid out transport infrastructures. Stolaroff (2014) notes that drones are not restricted to specific routes and, therefore, can easily navigate through terrains to ensure quick deliveries. In addition, drones do not require specific departure and arrival times. Due to their flexibility in terms of infrastructure, they can be operated at any required time. The operation of a drone does not demand a sophisticated pilot or education and, therefore, can be relatively cheap.

Environmental Benefits and Consumer Behavior


According to Keengwe (2015), the drone delivery technology is much safer for the environment compared to trucks or trains. This is because a single drone that is powered by a battery emits negligible gas into the environment. In addition, the amounts of energy utilized are less. Trucks and trains, on the other hand, emit lots of gases that affect the environment. Fahlstrom and Gleason (2012) also note that when many people take advantage of the drone delivery system, the trucks will travel fewer miles and with fewer goods. In addition to these advantages, there is the fact that shopping online offers a customer fewer opportunities to purchase something impulsively.

Conclusion


In conclusion, I believe that the drone delivery technology is advantageous to both private and corporate systems. Organizations can reduce the labor cost of delivery by using drones and, consequently, reduce time wastage and increase revenue. Emergency supplies and equipment can also be delivered by the use of drones to areas that are inaccessible in other ways, therefore, reducing human risk. Consumers are more likely to increase their online purchases due to the fast and efficient delivery offered by the drone delivery technology. In addition, the drone delivery technology will create jobs for pilots while also advancing research and technology. Every technology has its advantages and disadvantages. However, when the pros outweigh the cons, it is advisable to adopt it for the benefit of humanity. I strongly believe that Japan will highly benefit from the implementation of the drone delivery technology both in the commercial and the private sectors.


References

Bristeau, P. J., Callou, F., Vissiere, D., & Petit, N. (2011). The navigation and control technology inside the ar. drone micro uav. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 44(1), 1477-1484.
Fahlstrom, P. G., & Gleason, T. J. (2012). Introduction to UAV Systems. Hoboken: Wiley.
Information Resources Management Association. (2016). Human-computer interaction: Concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications. Information Resources Management Association.
Japan aviation directory. (1900). Tokyo: Koku Shimbun Sha.
Keengwe, J. (2015). Handbook of research on educational technology integration and active learning.
Stolaroff, J. K. (2014). The need for a life cycle assessment of drone-based commercial package delivery. Livermore, CA: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

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