Australia's postal service is now testing delivery drones
Australians are one step closer to getting rid of the postman.
On Friday, Australia Post announced it would begin a trial to deliver small packages using drone technology. "We're excited to be the first major parcels and logistics company in Australia to test RPA technology for commercial delivery applications," Australia Post managing director and group CEO Ahmed Fahour said in a statement.
You May Also Like
"We will put this innovative technology through its paces over the coming weeks and months to understand what it can deliver, how far it can travel, and ultimately, how our customers could receive a parcel."
While Fahour said Australia Post is unsure how exactly it will use drones in the future, he suggested it could be particularly useful for time-critical deliveries like medication or in locations, such as on rural properties, where there is a great distance between the road and the home.
Australia Post will run a closed-field trial in the next few weeks, with the possibility of a customer trial later in the year.
The drones were created by local company ARI Labs, and come complete with a system of precautions that includes a high definition camera, warning lights, an alarm and a parachute, according to Fairfax Media, presumably to win the cooperation of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
For Fahour, it's all about safety first: "We'll only bring it into play once we are 100 per cent sure that it's safe and reliable," he told the outlet.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
