Drones Replace Caddies on Japanese Golf Courses

Amazon is no longer the only e-commerce platform working on ambitious plans on assigning drones with mundane tasks.  Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten is experimenting with turning quadcopters into flying caddies.

Courtesy of Engadget

As early as May, the lucky (at least, we hope so) players at specific courses in Japan will be able to try the idea out. So, if you do find yourself golfing away at the chosen course in Japan’s Chiba prefecture, keep your smartphone close.

Rumour has it that golfers will be able to order refreshments or more golf balls and have them brought over by Mini Surveyor drones, waiting at the base station by the club house.

The trial will let Rakuten know whether having drones fill in as caddies is a viable option. And if so, may also lead to moving ahead with the idea of drones delivering consumer packages- a programme similar to Amazon’s Prime Air.

While Japan is working towards giving drones more freedom, Amazon may be in a tougher position with stricter UAV regulations imposed year after year in the US. Consumer drones are also under scrutiny: US drone pilots were asked to register their quadcopters and get a license as of February this year. Read more on US drone regulations in US Drone Users To Register By February 19thUS Drone Users To Register By February 19th