So do people really want drones delivering goods right to their doorstep?
Most Americans in a new survey say they aren’t, but a majority of men and most young millennials do.
So says France-based ReportLinker, which conducted an online survey of more than 1,000 Americans just before Christmas.
Nearly half (47 percent) of those surveyed said they had an open mind about same-day delivery by drone.
However, among men the percentage jumped to 53 percent.
And millennials ages 18-24 backed the idea in a big way at 72 percent.
What would people want most?
“Twenty-one percent of online shoppers who say they’re interested in drone delivery also say they’re most likely to use it for [electronics,” the survey says. “And despite the role drones already play in medical and humanitarian purposes, only 10 percent of survey respondents say they’d use a drone for such deliveries. In fact, Americans aren’t much interested in having drones deliver food. It ranks third on their list.”
Drone commercial potential
Why at this point are many Americans resistant to the drone delivery idea?
“Drones present threats to privacy and safety, and they can be perceived as nuisances. Regulations would resolve many of these concerns, but in the U.S., these issues haven’t been easy to tackle.”
However, entrepreneurs in the Triangle such as those at PrecisionHawk and numerous startups see much potential in drones.
“The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently issued Part 107, which is a set of rules guiding the operation of drones in the U.S.,” ReportLinker says.
“While this could accelerate investment, the U.S. has a sleepy track record and has been slow to issue rules and guidance. That’s why Amazon began testing drones in the UK first. The country has led the way on developing regulations for commercial drone flights.”
ReportLinker notes that the FAA anticipates 7 million drones in U.S. skies by 2020 and that the FAA moves for licensing operators “holds enormous potential for small business owners and entrepreneurs, who see significant business opportunities in drones. Realtors, videographers, and specialized delivery services could emerge. Drones also could be used to fight fires, locate missing persons, and deliver medications to hospitals.”
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