Drone delivery in NZ - Fastway Couriers

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timbosan

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# 175197 21-Jun-2015 09:13

I just read this article about Fastway Couriers using drones to delivery parcels in Auckland:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11468563

It all looks very cool, and as the article notes, NZ is looking like a good testing ground due to out legislation. Here is a direct link to the video showing a drone delivering a parcel in 4 minutes vs. a courier to the same location in 18 mins:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHX2qo0P7gY

All very exciting!

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# 1328587 21-Jun-2015 10:07

The problem is they are still working out the regulations for drone use, and its my understanding that they are looking to exclude flying over private property

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ask-phoebe/news/article.cfm?c_id=800&objectid=11432033

freitasm

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# 1328589 21-Jun-2015 10:10

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Battery life is going to be the killer problem.

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ZollyMonsta

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# 1328590 21-Jun-2015 10:11

*parcel promptly gets run over by car*

:-)

Wonder what the weight limit is for the parcel? Looks like the attachment is magnetic.

The delivery via wire released seems strange. Thought it would gave been safer for the drone to land.

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timbosan

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# 1328592 21-Jun-2015 10:17

ZollyMonsta: *parcel promptly gets run over by car*

:-)

Wonder what the weight limit is for the parcel? Looks like the attachment is magnetic.

The delivery via wire released seems strange. Thought it would gave been safer for the drone to land.

The article says 2.5KG, but I guess it depends on the model of drone.

timbosan

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# 1328593 21-Jun-2015 10:24

Jase2985: The problem is they are still working out the regulations for drone use, and its my understanding that they are looking to exclude flying over private property

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ask-phoebe/news/article.cfm?c_id=800&objectid=11432033

Yeah, I can fully understand these (proposed) rules, but I think there will be lobbying by the industry to promote drone use. Wasn't Amazon looking into NZ when the US government decided it would take 18months to give them a permit to even trial their drones?

We supposedly have a very open approach to these (we being the government) and hopefully common sense will prevail. And I am 99% sure that current legislation says that no-one 'owns' the airspace above their home, and it has been that way for many decades (otherwise every flight would have to seek permission from 1000's of people) and I cannot see that changing.

Jase2985

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# 1328594 21-Jun-2015 10:27

http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/AD_1.3.pdf

thats the list of all the aerodromes/heleports in NZ and if they enforce the 4km limit thats the majority of auckland out

Jase2985

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# 1328595 21-Jun-2015 10:29

timbosan: We supposedly have a very open approach to these (we being the government) and hopefully common sense will prevail. And I am 99% sure that current legislation says that no-one 'owns' the airspace above their home, and it has been that way for many decades (otherwise every flight would have to seek permission from 1000's of people) and I cannot see that changing.

you are right, but the current privacy rules says you cant video your neighbours over the fence, so why is a drone any different? you need the camera on it to know where you are going.

also the whole you need to fly it where you can see it, means you either need a large tower to fly it from or you need to follow it while flying.

andrewNZ

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# 1328597 21-Jun-2015 10:36

Jase2985: http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/AD_1.3.pdf

thats the list of all the aerodromes/heleports in NZ and if they enforce the 4km limit thats the majority of auckland out

For recreation yes, but recreational riles kill it any. Users must maintain eye contact with their drone at all times.

For a proper licenced commercial operator and things are considerably different.

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networkn

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# 1328603 21-Jun-2015 11:04

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Sorry to say but I can't think of a worse company to run something like this. They have a pretty average history of managing to deliver parcels the regular way.

Behodar

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# 1328605 21-Jun-2015 11:15

Jase2985: also the whole you need to fly it where you can see it, means you either need a large tower to fly it from or you need to follow it while flying.

Didn't they get rid of that? I'm pretty sure that I saw an article a few months ago saying that NZ was the first country in the world to remove that restriction.

linw

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# 1328629 21-Jun-2015 11:54

Part 101 of the new rules say line of sight must be maintained, amongst other things, but there is Part 102 that is for commercial users who need to apply for an "Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certificate". Plenty of hoops to jump through but looks as if there is scope for such things as seen in the video but who really knows what will get the nod?

The regs are on the CAA site.

Batman

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# 1328637 21-Jun-2015 12:25

I wonder what it feels like to get hit in the face by a big quadcopter/rotors.

And this is going to be real fun for assassins.

Swype on iOS is detrimental to accurate typing. Apologies in advance.

toyonut

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# 1328645 21-Jun-2015 13:02

ZollyMonsta: *parcel promptly gets run over by car*

:-)

Wonder what the weight limit is for the parcel? Looks like the attachment is magnetic.

The delivery via wire released seems strange. Thought it would gave been safer for the drone to land.

They really would need to work out a better way for the drone to decide where to release, I would not be happy having parts dropped near to my work on the street! Guessing the wire release is to avoid having large and powerful rotors coming into contact with bystanders. Still, that is going to add to the challenge of dronehunting.

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