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LogOn: Are Americans Ready for More Drone Deliveries?
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LanguageEnglish
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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn Drone Delivery Growth (TV/R)
HEADLINE: LogOn: Are Americans Ready for More Drone Deliveries?
TEASER: Major US retailer says it made more than 6,000 drone deliveries last year
PUBLISHED: 04/25/2023 at 10:25
BYLINE: Julie Taboh
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Virginia Beach, Virginia
VIDEOGRAPHER: Adam Greenbaum, Chad Baugh
PRODUCER: Julie Taboh, Adam Greenbaum
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): original VOA, Chad Baugh, DroneUp, AP, AFP, Reuters, Skype, StoryBlocks
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 1:57
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: Please note that there is a feature-length version of this story as well.))
((INTRO))
[[Drones are routinely used in warfare, law enforcement and agriculture. Now more and more U.S. businesses are using them to deliver cookies and coffee right to your front door. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more.]]
((NATS – drone takeoff))
((NARRATOR))
Something unusual is happening in this …
((Courtesy: Chad Baugh))
… Eastern Virginia suburb.
Groceries are being delivered to the Baugh ((Baw)) family, via drone. ((end courtesy))
[[Radio track: Chad Baugh]])
((Chad Baugh, Walmart Customer))
“It's super convenient for us, having twins. We don't have to spend the extra time of loading them up, loading them in the car.
((NARRATOR))
Baugh ordered his goods online, from a nearby Walmart ...
one of America’s largest retailers.
Which made more than 6,000 deliveries via drone to its customers last year.
((Radio track: Phillip Wallace is Walmart’s Director of Federal Government Affairs. He spoke with VOA via Skype.))
((Phillip Wallace, Walmart Director of Federal Government Affairs)) ((SKYPE))
“Drones, they really check a couple of different boxes. One, in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness, they're really quick. Also, they're very sustainable.”
((NARRATOR))
The company uses a service called DroneUp to deliver the bulk of its orders.
Drone delivery services are especially suited for people living in rural areas and adults who are older or have mobility issues.
((Courtesy: DroneUp))
((NATS – Drone rising))
((NARRATOR))
The drone stays about 25 meters above ground, which helps with privacy ((end courtesy)) and reduces the noise level.
But the main challenge, DroneUp says, is the strict regulations imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
((Radio track: Anthony Vittone ((vee-TONE)) is the chief operating officer of DroneUp. He spoke with VOA via Skype.))
((Anthony Vittone, DroneUp Chief Operating Officer)) ((SKYPE))
“I think the FAA has done a great deal to advance drone technology, but it has not kept up with where we're headed.”
((NARRATOR))
In a statement to VOA, the FAA said that in September, it will require drones to broadcast Remote Identification information, a major step toward enabling Unmanned Traffic Management.
((NATS – Drone landing))
((Radio track: Miriam McNabb is an editor at Dronelife, a commercial drone news site. She spoke with VOA via Skype.))
((Miriam McNabb, DroneLife Editor)) ((SKYPE))
“Drone integration is a very big topic at the FAA. We're talking about issues of how you integrate drones into the existing air traffic control systems."
((NARRATOR))
Which is good news for consumers.
((Chad Baugh, Walmart Customer))
“I think the whole unmanned aviation in the future is really going to be beneficial to everyone. As more companies come online, you’re going to be able to get your products to your house faster and safer.”
((NATS – Drone takeoff))
((Julie Taboh, VOA News, Virginia Beach, Virginia))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
