In Richardson, Texas, when Amazon Prime Air drone delivery service went online, some local residents who lived near the service center began to complain about the constant noise, invasion of privacy, and lack of effective solutions to the problem. Meanwhile, the e-commerce giant plans to expand its drone delivery services in other parts of the United States.
Image source: aboutamazon.com
Drones take off from Amazon distribution centers and deliver packages within a 12-kilometer radius. Tens of thousands of products are available to order and delivered in 30 minutes; packages weigh up to 2.3kg and shipping costs range from zero to $4.99. Richardson officials approved the plan in December. Drone flights are allowed from 7:00 to 20:00; normally, these devices can fly at an altitude of 68 m, but the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows a flight altitude of 120 m. By the end of this year, the company plans to launch drone delivery services at 500 locations in the United States; other U.S. companies are also using drones for delivery.
For Richardson residents whose homes are near the Amazon Center, noise is a major issue — drones have been flying over their homes for days and can be heard even indoors, especially on weekends. Amazon says noise complaints make up a small portion of all customer reviews — less than 1% — and that the public’s overall response to the service is “Mostly positive”. The company notes that the drone’s operating sound is reminiscent of the noise of a low-speed window fan and is quieter than the noise of a passing car. Locals say Amazon is lying – it sounds just like a flying lawnmower, and the real problem isn’t the drones themselves, but that they fly so frequently that living in the area becomes unbearable.
One family complained about a drone flying over their backyard while people were swimming and cooking outdoors – the company agreed to change the route and the drone began flying directly in front of the house. There’s not much city governments can do: They can regulate zoning issues and the location of Amazon facilities, but not the airspace above the city. When the FAA issued the license to Amazon, it stated only that commercial delivery drones would not have a “significant impact” on the environment. City residents have called on authorities to limit drone flight times or impose other restrictions.
Another reason for concern is privacy. Amazon’s drones are equipped with cameras and navigation sensors, and city residents are concerned about what they record as they fly over homes and properties. The company ensures that the images are stored on encrypted media and can only be accessed by authorized employees. This data is used for security and customer service purposes. One local resident began tracking drone flights over her home, counting 52 drones even on what she called “calm” days. Video evidence shows drones dropping cargo into inappropriate places such as swimming pools. There are known cases of drones becoming trapped in public places. Amazon responded that it would continue to improve the program.
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