Drones

rameire

My flaw is i prefer that Chinese to the others closer to me.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123956377#Comment_123956377

In fairness some of the delivery apps also give updates but you've no idea how many stops the guy is making or where you are in the delivery order on his route. The few times I used that we had food arrive cold as a result. Why I never use it.

The drone is a lot more predictable and quicker once it's taken off. It can be delayed for other reasons like delay in getting to the drone hub.

It's all first world problems though. I could probably pop around to the local shop and grab a sandwich quicker than either drone or delivery guy if time was important.

Jacketpotato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123954304#Comment_123954304

Or better yet a community discussion where the public can be heard to iron out the benefits and drawbacks, to find a workable solution or a rejection of it. It isnt going away… Those who use the service obviously see benefit and arent bothered by it, those opposed to it around noise or privacy clearly feel the company dont listen to them or have representation, which will only harden their stances and optics of the company over something that likely could have been avoided by listening and not downplaying their concerns. I have said before, I don't think its unreasonable to expect your home to have privacy and not be treated as a means to an end for commercial operators to fly over at low heights while doing deliveries - it is a massive change.


If articles for a local issue are being picked up by national news fairly frequently this year & largely negative, along with townhalls in blanch and dundrum being reported by those same national news stations as overwhelmingly negative in recent weeks, and flouting of planning permissions causing shutdown of their bases - that is a strong signal something is wrong and that PR statements and the current approach from the company aren't cutting it. I cant think of any other business in the area that became such a talking point. The opening of Krispy Kreme drive through some years back would be the closest? But that was more for the spectacle it became.

MacDanger

I see this is in the news again:

Locals oppose Manna Drone delivery hub for Dublin 15

Would a reasonable solution be for the drones to be required to stick to flying over roads only?

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124000365#Comment_124000365

I've often thought that Manna should use main roads or open space areas to get close to the destination before going over back gardens but there seems to be no give from either side to even discuss such an idea.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124000365#Comment_124000365

I assume that would mean someone would have to actually control the drone in flight, and would also increase the distance it needs to travel, so I don't think Manna will be proposing it.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124000623#Comment_124000623

No way would it need to be controlled - any navigation app would be able to manage it the same way they'd do for a car / pedestrian. Obviously it would put extra "mileage" on the drones so Manna wouldn't be proposing it but it seems like a reasonable solution IMO

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124000642#Comment_124000642

Fair enough, I guess it could be automated. The other problem is that most streets in D15 have houses on either side, so the residents of e.g. the Clonsilla Road and Coolmine Road would be subject to even more noise, even if their neighbours 50 metres back from the road get less.

Larbre34

I think the Manna model may be doomed by planning.

At least until a comprehensive national planning framework for commercial drone operations can be legislated for. One which will see drones fly high enough not to cause any noise issues while en route, while keeping manned air traffic safe, i.e., at or about 1,500 feet above ground level.

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124001585#Comment_124001585

When I Bobby Healy rang me back a few years ago he said that the altitude conflict was with the Garda helicopter - it goes down to something like 65 metres. That likely rules out anything close to 1500 feet/500m.

MojoMaker

Apologies, what is the privacy issue exactly?

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124002225#Comment_124002225

Well then they should be banned altogether, permanently.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124001585#Comment_124001585

drones fly high enough not to cause any noise issues while en route

I think if they stick to existing roads, they'd be okay from a noise point of view - most other vehicles on the road make noise so it's not much different and obviously the presence of the drones reduces vehicular traffic on those same road to some extent

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124002233#Comment_124002233

Objectors believe that the drone pilot is watching back gardens as the drone flies to its destination. Manna have said that the camera isn't on until it reaches the destination.

The camera, which Manna says is low resolution, is only to ensure the landing zone is clear. At this point the camera can see the immediately adjacent gardens (you can see this in the video that Prime Time showed). Footage is not recorded.

Of course, the drone pilot has a job to do (and do as quickly as possible) so ain't going to care what is going on in those other gardens.

MojoMaker

And why is this an issue?

Is it being used as a stick with which to beat the service provider?

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124002900#Comment_124002900

Objectors believe that the drone pilot is watching back gardens as the drone flies to its destination.

No-one has said that, as you well know.

The concern is that Manna are in control of what camera is used, when it is activated, what pictures it collects and whether or not any footage is stored. That is a huge amount of responsibilty to give to an unregulated private entity.

The camera is described as low-res but it needs to have sufficient resolution to ensure that the landing zone is clear and suitable to drop the food, so it can't be that low-res.

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124002995#Comment_124002995

A Drone Action flyer says: "Drones carry cameras … People's privacy is ignored in their homes and gardens." (it sees through walls!)

A WhatsApp group I'm in has a number of people that object to drones. One person said "as they fly over neighbouring properties the camera turns towards my house" - this person seems to believe the camera is on.

Another posted: "you should acknowledge that flying your food above my head while I sit in my private house or garden is an invasion of my right to privacy" - again they seem to believe the camera is always on.

The private entity is regulated by IAA and Data Protection Commission.

Yes, "low res" these days would be a reasonable resolution because of what is available. That said, it could be a low quality as even that would be enough to see people in the landing area. Even this low res satellite view near Power City is enough to see a person.