Is A Noisy Flying Robot In Your Near Future?
Aerial Drones: Balancing Neighborhood Risks and Benefits Amazon has announced its plan to roll out Prime Air delivery drones in the Tampa Bay area, promising one-hour delivery within an eight-mile radius of its Ruskin fulfillment center. Customers will be able to opt in at checkout, and the company says the service will reduce some van traffic while adding new local jobs. The MK30 drone, designed to fly at altitudes between roughly 150 and 400 feet, was showcased locally as part of the announcement. While the convenience is clear, neighborhoods in the flight path will shoulder the day-to-day impacts. Experiences from other test markets and community discussions raise questions about noise, privacy, surveillance, and long-term acceptance. Neighborhood Impacts Noise character and frequency. Communities in existing drone markets have reported that the sound of delivery drones differs sharply from typical street noise. The mid- to high-pitched whine is often described as simi...