Case Study:

Amazon Drone Knocking

Using drones to drop off packages could be great for buyers, who might want to get

certain items as fast as humanly possible. Back in $2013,$ when Amazon revealed plans to

begin delivering packages via flying drones through Prime Air, some seemed skeptical

about the reality of deploying such a system. Recently, Amazon doubled down on those

claims by releasing information on one of its new drones in action, and it is seriously

impressive.

A new video presented by former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson $($who is working on a

show for Amazon$),$ takes us through the entire process, from ordering, to warehouse

launch, to delivery. The new drone looks a lot different from the one Amazon showed us

a couple of years ago. This one has a more commercial and streamlined look, and instead

of showing the package hanging in open air, the new drone hides the item in a square

compartment. Just Google Amazon Prime Air Drone video with Jeremy Clarkson to see

for yourself this amazing new drone that will dramatically impact the supply chain.

According to Amazon, the drone reaches a height of about $400$ feet in vertical mode and

then switches to horizontal mode to travel up to $15$ miles away from the warehouse.

During the flight, the drone uses what Amazon calls $$sense and avoid technology$$ to avoid

collisions with other objects in its flight path.

Toward the end of the video, the drone alights atop an Amazon logo in the yard of a

consumer and spits out the package $($in this case, shoes$)$ and then takes off in a matter

of seconds. The delivery process, which Amazon is careful to note is real and not a

simulation, comes off seamlessly, making the prospect of drone deliveries seem like

something that will be viable just a few months from now.

However, despite the encouraging footage, Amazon is still holding off on announcing

exactly when its drones will take to the skies. On the updated Prime Air page featuring

the new flight footage, a message reads, $$Putting Prime Air into service will take some

time, but we will deploy when we have the regulatory support needed to realize our

vision.$$

The FAA$$s Unmanned Aircraft Systems $($UAS$)$ Registration Task Force Aviation

Rulemaking Committee is still hammering out rules for private and commercial drone use

in U$.$S$.$ air space, so Amazon$$s lack of a specific launch timeline for Prime Air is

understandable. But based on the video, it$$s becoming increasingly clear that Prime Air

might not be a mere marketing stunt but a real look at the future of Amazon deliveries.

$2$

Retailers Racing to the Drone Games

Wal$-$Mart recently applied to U$.$S$.$ regulators for permission to test drones for home

delivery, curbside pickup and checking warehouse inventories, a sign it plans to go headto$-$

head with Amazon in using drones to fill and deliver online orders.

Wal$-$Mart wants to start using drones in an effort to create a more efficient supply chain,

and connect their network of stores, distribution centers, fulfillment centers and

transportation fleet. The world$$s largest retailer by revenue has for several months been

conducting indoor tests of small unmanned aircraft systems $($drones$)$ and is now seeking

for the first time to test the machines outdoors. In addition to having drones take inventory

of trailers outside its warehouses and perform other tasks aimed at making its distribution

system more efficient, Wal$-$Mart is asking the Federal Aviation Administration for

permission to research drone use in $$deliveries to customers at Walmart facilities, as well

as to consumer homes.$$ The move comes as Amazon, Google and other companies test

drones in the expectation that the FAA will soon establish rules for their widespread

commercial use.

Please structure your answer according to the questions below:

$2.$ Why are big retailers racing to be the first to market with drone home delivery?