While the use of drones is seen by some as an innovative, exciting venture or simply ‘the way forward’, those living in Dublin 15 among what some describe as ‘flying lawnmowers’ have a less favorable view.
Following trials in Galway and Offaly, Irish drone delivery service Manna set up shop near Blanchardstown Center earlier this year, with its base surrounded by popular fast food chains and cafes.
The drones fly at a speed of 60 km/h at a height of between 50 and 65 meters and can deliver food or coffee to local areas within three minutes, according to Manna.
For deliveries in their area, drones taking off from the Blanchardstown base consistently fly “directly” over Mary McGuire and Frank Kelly’s home in Castleknock.
By around 11 a.m. on Friday, the couple had counted six flyovers, which they consider “excellent,” explaining that during the summer months demand is so high that drones are “flying after each other.”
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Mrs McGuire lives in a large GAA household and remembers the day of the All-Ireland football final in July: “We had 40 flyovers before 2pm.”
The couple, in their 60s, encountered their first Manna drone in February and remembered something the size of their coffee table whizzing past their skylight.
No strangers to noise, they live right behind a railway line and despite the triple glazing, “It’s like a flying lawnmower,” says Mrs McGuire.
Mr Kelly believes there is an even split between locals for and against the service, which they say operates in their homes between 9am and 9pm and is only growing in popularity.
“There are pros and cons, and the pros don’t want you to say they’re a nuisance because they use it, and I understand that, but I also have a voice,” says Ms. McGuire.
Sitting in front of a manicured garden, which she says is “overrun,” she notes how the service is seen by some as “the way forward.”
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“There’s one now,” she says, as a drone flies overhead to deliver nearby. “It just turned out incredible.”
The couple believes that the drones should operate above main roads and not above gardens.
Councilor Ruth Coppinger of Local People Before Profit described the number of locals who raised the issue, especially during her local election campaign in June, as “phenomenal”.
“I would say that, other than housing, this would be the biggest problem,” she says.
Ms Coppinger, who believes the drones should follow the roads, has called for Manna management to be brought before Fingal County Council to respond to residents’ concerns.
Meanwhile, another couple in Blanchardstown wished to remain anonymous because they fear “the issue is so serious that it could devalue the house”.
“It feels as loud as a motorbike driving through your garden,” says the woman, describing it as “an absolute invasion of privacy”.
After requesting an overflight exclusion, they were told by Manna in an email that a “small block” could be placed around their home, “but this would have little noticeable effect as our numerous other customers in and around your street will still use our service”.
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The company said it was testing new “dynamic routing” software that would ensure the drones took a different route when returning to base after delivery, meaning there would be fewer flyovers, which it “completely plans to do” ‘ could be deployed as soon as it was ready.
Manna also told the couple that it was testing new propellers that had “demonstrated a significant reduction in decibel levels compared to our current iteration.”
Although Manna did not respond to a request for comment, the website says the sound of the drones is similar to that of “passing traffic” and lasts for 40 seconds while it delivers the order.
It is further claimed that the drones cause less noise pollution “than cars on the ground”.