MIT’s New Experimental Delivery Solution Goes Where None Have Gone Before
Drone aircraft as a delivery system is almost old hat by now, and we’ve certainly heard about ground-based delivery systems of a variety of shapes before now.
MIT is poised to change the game once again by going in a completely different direction with its delivery system: underground.
Here, “underground” means literally below the surface of the Earth. More specifically, MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems and Society has concocted a means to use three-wheeled drone vehicles known as “persuasive electric vehicles” or PEVs.
Said PEVs could be used in a series of underground tunnels to deliver goods throughout a fairly large area.
The system isn’t without flaw; even MIT—as expressed by assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics Sertac Karaman—notes that in many places self-driving vehicles aren’t even allowed by law.
Karaman also referred to the notion as “a wild idea.” It’s a wild idea with quite a few benefits, though, including getting delivery vehicle traffic off the roads and reducing congestion.
The infrastructure is generally in place, and such travel would be more reliable than above ground or ground-based travel. Karaman noted, “It only takes a kid with a rock to take down a drone.” True enough, but there are some other downsides here.
The infrastructure in question is only available in so many places. It’s pretty much a no-go outside of any major city, unless they’re planning to criss-cross the country with tunnels.
However, this could be one of those “right tool for the right job” scenarios where the tunnel system works where there are tunnels, and airborne drones take over for the wider-range delivery options.
It’s good to have several tools in the toolbox, as it better ensures that the right one’s on hand. How, however, is anyone going to get these packages?
They travel from one place to another by tunnel, but do they go to a user’s door? Or a central hub where the user needs to go to pick them up? How does the “last mile” get satisfied here?
Still, MIT’s thinking, and that’s a good thing. Even a bad idea can lead to a good one, and this isn’t even a bad idea, really. A bit limited, and oddly specific, but one that’s got some real potential to help get things where they need to be after ordering.