Drones

DHL parcelcopter launches initial operations for research purposes - the first autonomous delivery flights by parcelcopter in Europe authorized with regular flights to the North Sea island of Juist.

Google began working on drones in 2011 and said it expected it would "take years to develop a service with multiple vehicles flying multiple deliveries per day."

The FAA has selected six UAS test site operators that will allow the agency to develop research findings and operational experiences to help ensure the safe integration of UAS into the nation's airspace as we transition to a system featuring NextGen technologies and procedures.

I would be shocked if a companies like UPS and FedEx aren't considering this," says Ryan Calo, a law professor specializing in drones and robotics. "If you want to compete in logistics and delivery, drones and unmanned robots have to be part of the conversation about where things are headed."

Google is looking at shoring up the same kinds of deficiencies that UPS and FedEx may be exploring, like the transport method for shuttling goods from central depots to local sort and delivery facilities.

Amazon's plans for using drones to deliver packages is just one example of the potential this technology offers consumers, and a reflection of the ingenuity of American business.

Jeff Bezos says we're four or five years from drones being able to deliver small packages right to your house, largely because the company has to work with the FAA to make sure it's legally allowed to run the Prime Air program.

"I believe we’re witnessing the birth of a new transportation mode, one that will take many years to develop and mature (but will probably happen sooner than we think)."

So, what is the implication for logistics? Well, just like what I have been discussing relative to 3D Printing, there is a chance this could revolutionize air freight delivery in the package space.