Japan Eliminates Restriction To Increase Drone Deliveries

On Monday, Japan lifted its ban on autonomous drone flights over residential areas. This will make drone deliveries possible and help the country deal with the labor shortages caused by its aging population, especially in rural areas.

Autonomous drone flights were previously only permitted over uninhabited regions such as mountains, rivers, and farmlands under the four-tier classification system.

Level-four autonomous drone operations over residential areas are set to commence in March, if operators intending to offer such services complete the requisite regulatory processes.

While some logistics companies have already begun using level-three drones for deliveries, flights through residential areas made possible by a revision to the Civil Aeronautics Law are hoped to help the country address a severe shortage of delivery truck drivers as well as difficulties accessing retail stores in rural areas.

“We no longer have to avoid traveling over people’s homes, so our…