Threatening Workers And Disturbing The Environment, Conveying Goods Via Drones Begins To Be Troubled

The drone used by Wing to deliver goods. (photo: wing)

JAKARTA - Wing, a sister company of Google that specializes in drone delivery services, has now grown in Australia with more than 100,000 packages they have delivered. But recent reports say its operations have hidden costs for the environment, workers, and society.

The company also ships packages in the US states of Virginia, and Helsinki, Finland. It's in the Australian city of Canberra, and its presence is so strong that it's now dubbed the "drone capital".

Drone delivery is considered the next big thing in logistics. From mailing to e-commerce, medical, emergency supplies, and environmental services. Drone startups are also battling regulations, such as FAA regulations, to take off in a multibillion-dollar market. Drones are seen as a solution for cutting road traffic, delivery times, and modernizing logistics. But in Australia, drones are causing a stir beyond the initial frenzy.

The Google wing, with over 100,000 packages shipped, announced a new expansion for the shopping mall roof in Australia which was celebrated with the media. But a new report by Deloitte now in the hands of the Australian government warns that their drone delivery operation may be more grueling than previously thought.

Researchers from the University in Australia also say that drone delivery prioritizing speed come at the expense of workers, communities, and the environment. They urged the public to get involved in the process before it was too late, while the law was pushed by lobbyists to support drone services.

Drones may promise to reduce emissions by reducing traffic but mining for lithium batteries and supplying energy for industry could balance those gains, the researchers said.

Environmentalists also warn that a single sandwich flying aboard a drone requires a lot of special packaging which will eventually go to waste. Drones impact the environment causing noise, and some consider it a nuisance. Recently, crows and other birds of prey (raptors) have been observed attacking drones in an apparent display of ecological disturbance.

The Deloitte model suggests that drone deliveries will cut prices and delivery times but this will have a domino effect on the sector impacting gig workers and delivery drivers.

The new positions opened by drone delivery require special skills and will not be easily accessible to Uber, Amazon, Uber Eats, and other delivery workers. The Australian government is being lobbied by Wing's parent company, Alphabet, for its push to modernize drone regulations.

"This means reassessing the rules around environmental impact, noise, safety, insurance, security and privacy," the researchers were quoted as saying by Screenrant. If society, businesses, and workers are not involved, their future will be determined without them.

"Getting sushi delivered via drone may seem like a good idea, but the actual price may have nothing to do with what's charged to your card," said researchers in Australia.