Day: November 28, 2017

Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, is testing Project Wing drones in Australia. Alphabet’s X unit is in partnership with two Australian firms to test their bold idea of drone delivery service. The company wants to use the gathered testing data for a possible rollout of a drone delivery service in the United States.

X’s Project Wing

Project Wing is working with University of Virginia (UVA) students on the delivery system. However, due to strict drone regulations, the project limits delivery to large open areas. In addition, the testing is at a largely rural area. For those who are part of the tests, the rural areas seem to be the right target audience. They are far from the city so deliveries often do not reach their location. In addition, the time factor can be crucial for urgent deliveries.

Last year, Alphabet X unit partnered with UVA on a Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approved partnership with fast food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill for a pilot program. One of the offshoots of the program was the delivery to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) students on a large open field. The choice of the delivery site was due to compliance with federal regulations. Moving the testing to Australia gave Alphabet leeway in the choice of delivery location, as well as a larger sample of customers who receive the deliveries.

Australian Partners

Alphabet partnered with Tex-Mex restaurant Guzman y Gomez and pharmacy company Chemist Warehouse. Alphabet X currently delivers burritos courtesy of the Guzman y Gomez, but the ongoing testing is on smaller delivery sites. One advantage of testing in Australia is the larger lots owned by the customers. In addition, Australian regulations regarding drones are also less stringent.

Customers gave positive feedback about the deliveries. For those who live in farms, they note that the farm animals were at first mildly interested in the noise that drones generate. In succeeding deliveries, the farm animals no longer gave any attention to the drones. The test customers were mostly appreciative of the possibilities of drone deliveries. One scenario they see where drone deliveries would be of help would be in night-time food deliveries, especially when a customer lives in a remote area.

In the same manner, the reason they test with Chemist Warehouse is aiming for timely medicine deliveries, especially during emergencies. This is an important point to consider when a customer is in the middle of the field, too far from the farmhouse to call for aid.

The Delivery Drones

The drones used in the tests are multi-rotor vehicles, but would not be the same drones to be used once deliveries are in full swing. Right now these drones can fly up to 120 kilometers per hour (km/h) [74.56 miles per hour (mi/h)]. These test models fly upwards before moving horizontally in the direction of the target delivery site. The aim of the drone design is to move horizontally, in a fast and energy-efficient manner. The next generation drones for production deliveries will be larger with more rotors and capable of carrying bigger loads.

The drones do not need to land to deliver. They can hover on site and release their package before going to the next location or going back to base.

There is a growing concern about the safety of pedestrians. Statistics revealed that 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2015 in the United States. During the same period, 193 pedestrians died in Georgia alone, a figure that increased by 18.4% over the 2014 data, and represented 13.5% of all motor vehicle fatalities.

In response to the alarming growth in pedestrian deaths, the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) has instituted a pilot program to assist pedestrians safely cross busy intersections and streets. Called the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon, it is installed in Atlanta with the aim to determine if it will help decrease the number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities.

The principle is simple and is already in use in other parts of the country. The beacon is designed for roads with a high volume of vehicles and pedestrians. It allows pedestrians to signal for vehicles to stop and let them cross. Pedestrians press a button on the beacon which turns on a flashing yellow overhead signal. The flashing yellow signal turns to a solid yellow which warns traffic to slow down and prepare to stop. This is followed by solid double red lights which require motorists to stop. Alternating red lights follow indicating that vehicles come to a full stop. Drivers are required to remain stopped until all the pedestrians have crossed.

Safety and Convenience for Pedestrians

The program prioritizes the safety and convenience of pedestrians. According to District Engineer Kathy Zahul, “pedestrians are among our most vulnerable road users.”

Engr. Zahul said, “we are using hybrid beacons more frequently in an effort to provide safer crossings at more frequent intervals.”

The Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon has been proven effective when used properly. However, it requires the strict compliance of pedestrians and motorists. The Georgia DOT wants to impress on motorists that road safety, especially pedestrian safety is everyone’s priority.

The use of a similar beacon is quite common in other states and cities. It does require the cooperation of vehicle owners to give way to pedestrians. In this process, discipline is also instilled in pedestrians. They are constrained to press the beacon button and wait until vehicles have stopped to allow them to cross the street.

Driver and Pedestrian Discipline

Driver and pedestrian discipline is important to ensure that accidents do not happen. In addition, with the installation of the beacons, drivers become more conscious of their surroundings. Specifically, drivers expect beacons to turn yellow, and they drive their cars cautiously in anticipation of it.

Georgia also has one of the most advanced highway ecosystems, an 18-mile stretch along Interstate 85 called The Ray. It is a project of the Georgia DOT, and the Colas, and located near the Alabama-Georgia state line. However, this project is principally privately-funded and incorporates next generation road technology. Some of the technology along The Ray includes the smart road, as well as solar panels to light up the highway. The innovative tech along The Ray also helps ensure the safety along the stretch of highway.