[THE VIEW]How to Ensure the Success of Drone Delivery

Concerns Over Privacy Infringement and Criminal Misuse of Recorded Footage
Development of Monitoring and Management Systems Needed
Securing Landing Points and Inter-Building Cooperation Systems
Establishing Stable Communication Networks Essential

Drone technology is emerging as one of the most notable innovations in the logistics industry today. Globally, numerous companies are adopting drone-based logistics services, which are driving fundamental changes beyond just faster delivery.

In the United States, Amazon has been steadily conducting various tests and pilot operations since announcing its drone delivery service in 2013, and recently introduced a pilot drone delivery service for prescription medications in several states.

United Parcel Service (UPS) received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2019 for drone delivery and currently offers services for rapid transportation of medical samples and more. Wing, a subsidiary of Google, is also piloting drone delivery services for small packages and food. In Korea, the introduction of drone-based logistics systems is underway, with companies such as CJ Logistics and Hanjin reviewing efficiency through pilot operations.

The innovative aspect of drone logistics is gaining attention for its potential to dramatically enhance customer experience. Consumers increasingly demand faster and more convenient delivery services, and drones are regarded as an optimal solution to meet these needs. Additionally, drones enable rapid delivery to hard-to-reach areas such as islands and mountainous regions, and in the long term, cost reductions in labor and transportation are expected.

However, there are many challenges to overcome for drone logistics services to be successfully established. Issues such as collision risks and flight stability under varying weather conditions must be resolved, and technical limitations still exist. There are also concerns about privacy infringement from videos captured by drones flying overhead, along with the potential for criminal misuse. In the U.S., the use and storage of video data captured by drones are strictly regulated, and technologies are being developed to monitor drone flight paths and usage purposes while detecting suspicious activities. Furthermore, successful adoption of drone logistics services requires technological development and infrastructure establishment, and international standards for drone communication protocols and data processing methods must be established to ensure interoperability and stability in the global market.

In Korea, drone delivery services specialized for the environment are particularly necessary. Given the concentration of high-rise buildings and structures, securing landing points is essential, and cooperative systems between buildings must be established. Development of hybrid systems integrating drones with existing logistics systems is also needed. Since communication infrastructure is relatively well established, it is important to develop real-time monitoring and management systems utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to build a sustainable system. Additionally, Korea’s many islands and mountainous areas require systems capable of real-time monitoring of strong winds and weather changes and flexible adjustment of flight plans. Stable communication networks must also be established in these areas where signals may weaken.

If regulatory and technical challenges for drone delivery services are overcome, drone logistics can be applied to wider regions and a variety of products. Such changes will not only provide consumers with faster and more efficient delivery services but also significantly contribute to cost reduction and efficiency improvement in the logistics industry. Since there is still great potential for development, it is necessary to continuously monitor the impact of drone technology advancement and logistics innovation on society and the economy and to follow future development directions.

Son Yunseok, Professor at the University of Notre Dame, USA