How Drone Delivery Could Change Cities in the Years to Come

There’s been a lot of buzz about drone delivery in recent months. Amazon and Walmart have committed to a future that includes it, as have restaurants such as Domino’s and El Pollo Tropical. Consumers have indicated that they are also ready for a move in the drone delivery direction. Yet it leaves many people wondering what types of changes could bring to their city. What a large-scale drone delivery service will look like is on the minds of many people.

“This is an exciting time for both businesses and consumers,” said Dan O'Toole, founder, and chief executive officer of Dronedek. “We are on the brink of a revolutionary change that will fundamentally transform how things are delivered."

Many people are already experiencing drone delivery services, as it is being tested in numerous cities around the country. With packages and food deliveries being made within minutes after the order is placed, it's giving people the opportunity to see what the future can hold around the nation. It also provides the companies a chance to work out the kinks so that it's ready to be taken to a larger scale.

Here are a few ways drone delivery could change cities in the years to come.

Less road congestion and thefts

There will be fewer delivery vehicles on the roads, which means less traffic and fewer accidents. This will also help to reduce the overhead that businesses incur.

Fewer people will need to drive their car to the store or restaurant, further reducing traffic on the roads. People can place an order and receive the item within 15-30 minutes.

There will be fewer packages being stolen and lost. Each year, millions of people find that their deliveries have been stolen from their porch or delivered to the wrong home.

Air could become cleaner

People will receive their deliveries quicker. Instead of waiting 24 hours to deliver miscellaneous items, they will receive them within 30 minutes. Rather than waiting an hour for food from a local restaurant, it will become 20 minutes.

Many believe the air will become cleaner because the drone delivery option will reduce the number of vehicle emissions.

The skies will look different in another way: people will see drones. Currently, they may see a neighbor flying an occasional drone. Still, once drone delivery takes hold on a larger scale, they will see drones regularly zipping around their city, carrying packages for delivery.

"One concern people have is that the drone will drop their item in the yard, and it will not be secured," O'Toole said. "Our receptacle addresses this issue to ensure that their items are safe and secure.”

Dronedek is a secure receptacle that will receive drone deliveries. Individuals and businesses can have them secured in their yard, such as a mailbox, and the drone will place the delivery inside the receptacle. The receptacle will keep the item safe from would-be thieves, and inclement weather and only allows the homeowner or business owner to access the item delivered.

Dronedek’s story

Founded by Dan O'Toole, Dronedek has raised $7.1 million, to develop its smart mailboxes for the mases and begin pilot programs. Dubbed as the "mailbox of the future," the container will help people send and receive packages securely and safely and provides privacy.

The company recently announced it has partnered with Helium to allow for more significant wireless network expansion. Helium hotspots will be put into Dronedeks in areas with limited coverage to help build the network.