About two years ago, Amazon showed off the idea to send its
products to customers by using delivery drones. Amazon explained that the
service will take about 4-5 years before it can be operated formally, because
there are a lot of feasibility tests and government regulations that must be
met first.
If Amazon insists to utilize drones, another case with a
startup named Starship Technologies. This startup founder is the originator of
Skype, Ahti Heinla. He believes that he can revolutionize the local logistics
field just like how Skype has revolutionized the communication field.
The idea is to offer delivery service by relying on robot
that can move automatically on the ground. Because this robot is running on the
ground, it doesn't have to wait a series of regulations which in turn this
robot could be realized quicker.
This delivery robot looks like an icebox that's equipped
with three pairs of wheels. This robot moves using an electric motor, so it
doesn't produce carbon emissions at all. It could move in a speed of about 6
km/h while carrying products weighing of 9 kg, and it's mingling with the
pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Starship Technologies claims that its robot can deliver the
goods to the destination within 5-30 minutes, depending on the option chosen by
consumers. Talking about its security, the cargo part of robot will be locked
and can only be opened via the companion app on the recipient's
smartphone.
But of course there are still other threats, for example
when there are people who want to carry the robot as a whole rather than trying
to break into its container. In such cases, consumers can continue to monitor
the position of the robot when it's still on the way. Starship Technologies
also orders its staff to constantly monitor the movements of the robot, so that
when there is an error, the staff could immediately take over the robot.
Starship Technologies claims that this idea can save about
10-15 times of the delivery cost that's commonly paid by the consumers for the
traditional delivery services. Currently the developer is still busy in
demonstrating the prototype robot and undergoing some final testing phases,
before finally it can be operated in the United States and United Kingdom in
2016.