Topic: Business
Amazon Drone Delivery
Amazon is now trying to implement a new system for delivery of products and it is planned to be done by drones. Drones have been developed a lot of very powerful today since the first drone was created. It is capable of having upto 4k camera and as of now, can carry about 5 pounds of weight at most. What’s more important is the fact that these drones are small and quick and they can travel up to 30 mph.
They are awaiting confirmation for legalization of this and the permission to test the drones in the US but the US was quite slow on this and the test was probably shifted to the UK and Canada. The drones will fly at 150 meters and will only fly during daytime.
The drones will have camera in them and are remote controlled from the centre having a range of up to 10 miles. The drones will work in according to the following steps:
- Order is taken from customer and registered to the company
- The order will be sent to the storage centre
- The staff will find the ordered product and pack it in a box
- The box will be attached to the drone and preparations will be made
- The drone pilot controls the drone and have it take off
- The drone travels from the centre to the given address
- The product is then placed in front or beside the house in a visible spot
Amazon thinks that implementing this system will be very quick and efficient for local customers. It is even faster than going out to the market yourself for buying little things.
Amazon claimed that we might be seeing these drones like the postman we see everyday and
these drones are the postman of the future.
It is reported that the drone will deliver your item within 30 minutes and the delivery price will be quite cheap.
Criterion A — The issue and stakeholder(s)
1. (a) Describe one social/ethical concern related to the IT system in the article.
One of the social/ethical concern for this system is the reliability of the drone. As these drones are physical objects, the drones could malfunction and drop if it is not maintained properly or it could even be taken down physically by someone. People could camp outside amazon warehouse and wait for these drones to come out then jam and easily steal the packages loaded to the drones.
(b) Describe the relationship of one primary stakeholder to the IT system in the article.
One of the primary stakeholders to this IT system are the amazon customers. Customers are the ones who order items and provide their personal information such as their name, addresses and other contact information. They are the main stakeholders who are involved in this as their privacy and security are at concern. The drone pilots could control the drone and invade the privacy of the customers very easily.
Criterion B — The IT concepts and processes
2. (a) Describe, step by step, how the IT system works. IT system: using Amazon website, Amazon database and drone controller
The customers first log in to the Amazon website using their login credential username and password. If the customers does not have one, they can create one using the signup page on the Amazon website. To sign up, the customers must create a username and password and provide Amazon with their email address, shipping address, billing address and payment information like credit card information; this information will be sent to the Amazon's database. After registering and logging in, the customers can browse the amazon website for products they wish to buy. After finding a product, the customers can add it to cart and check out. After checking out, Amazon will process the order, they will deduct the money using the billing information and the payment information provided. After the confirmation that money has been paid, Amazon will send the product information and the shipping address to the Amazon warehouse's database where the drones, the pilot and the products are stored. The Amazon staff with the help of robots prepare the product ordered and box it. After that, the product is then loaded to the drone and the drone is transferred to the drone pilot. The drone pilot can then view the information such as the shipping address from the database and guide the drone towards the customer's given address. The drone then drops off the product and the customer confirms that they received it. The drone pilot then take off and goes back to the warehouse to prepare for next flight.
(b) Explain the relationship between the IT system and the social/ethical concern described in Criterion A.
Reliability would be of concern towards this IT system as the drone is a physical object. Someone can jam the drone or physically shoot it down which results in customer not receiving what they ordered and also Amazon losing their drones. Many stakeholders are to be involved in this issue. The drones could also end up malfunctioning due to the failure in the drone itself or the drone pilot doing something wrong. This can all lead to a significant lost for both Amazon employees and the customers which in the end, Amazon has to take responsibilities for it.
Criterion C — The impact of the social/ethical issue(s) on stakeholders
3. Evaluate the impact of the social/ethical issues on the relevant stakeholders.
As the reliability is to be concerned, the customers
Advantages towards the customers are
- Fast delivery of small items
- can save unnecessary time of going out to the market to get 1 or 2 small things and is very convenient
- cheaper delivery price and taxes
Disadvantages towards customers are
- Possible damage to the items
- false delivery or unable to find the address
- No landing site for the drone
- Misuse/abuse of customer information
Criterion D — A solution to a problem arising from the article
4. Evaluate one possible solution that addresses at least one problem identified in Criterion C.
- do background checks of drone pilots
- encrypt customers information and make sure it is always in the right hand
- multiple security method to avoid hacks and leaking of informations
- camera drone sides to give vision in order to see if someone tries to take the drone down
- messages to the customer beforehand for preparation of landing site
- verifying addresses before delivery to make sure it is valid
- GPS tracker to be able to track down the drone incase it is taken down physically
- drone maintenance check daily to avoid and breakdown/malfunction
- check the products before delivery to ensure it is not damaged/whatsoever.
This is a pretty good post; you have good connections between the technology and the social and ethical benefits/issues, both of which you have written about in good depth. I don't think there's any consensus regarding how Criterion D was to be written up, whether all possibilities should have been listed like in the mark scheme, or whether we were to write about one solution like in the exam paper. Either way, you've done well and I'd give you a 20/20.
ReplyDeleteIt turns out these things are out of 26 and not 20 as I had previously thought. However, I wanted to give you the maximum mark for your efforts and so, you get 26/26.
DeleteCriterion A - 4/4 marks, you provide a security concern and you relate it to a primary stakeholder.
ReplyDeleteCriterion B - 6/6 marks, you provide a detailed description of the step by step process of how the drone works. You describe the whole process from beginning to end. Also, you go beyond the article as you mention bank processes and you go in detail as to how the drone pilot does his/her job.
Criterion C - You provide a sufficient amount of advantages and disadvantages which means you answer should be balanced. Bullet point form so can't really comment on anything else.
Criterion D - You don't really elaborate on each of the solutions so I think this aspect could be improved.