Amazon Drones (Photo : Reuters)
Amazon.com Inc. envisions on using unmanned drones guided by a centralized system for the company's delivery services. The company plans to run the drones on airspace specifically for commercial drones. The airspace is lower than the space used by traditional aircrafts. The company's plan was unveiled on a NASA sponsored Conference in Mountain View, California on July 21.
According to Gur Kimchi, the blueprint of the probes and the technologies to be used are fast maturing. He is the company's president who leads the drone-delivery division. Kimchi on an interview with Bloomberg said that the plan is feasible.
The concept according to Kimchi is to create a system that will serve as a traffic cop in a limited airspace for the drones. NASA is also working on a program they named Unmanned Aerial System. It is a government funded program focusing on creating system to organize flights of areal drones.
Amazon and at least 14 companies signed an agreement to work with NASA. According to Bloomberg, Kimchi said that the only way for drones to roam the skies without smashing one another or other aircraft is to send its position to a centralized computer system. According to Kimchi, safety and efficiency means the safety of everybody.
The rules in flying commercial drones are drafted in by FAA. According to The Verge, if the drones and rules are finalized commercial flights will be allowed during the day in sight of ground operators. The drone's operations will be limited and drones are not permitted within 5 miles from an airport.
According to Kimchi, if unmanned drones are to be operated beyond the control of FAA the drones should stay 400 meters above the ground since common aircraft flies higher than 500 feet. He said that drones will give way for low flying emergency aircrafts. High speed drones should stay between 200 and 400 feet.
