London startup to provide real-time risk assessments for drones
Flock, a London based startup, are developing an AI based software to analyse real-time risks for drone users. The system will take into account the location of physical objects, weather patterns as well as vehicles and pedestrians and will help drone users to determine whether it may be hazardous to fly. 

D rones could fly safely above London on home delivery missions, the boss of a Clerkenwell start-up today claimed.

Flock is working on artificial intelligence software that analyses hazards on a drone’s flight path to create real-time risk assessments for operators.

Current no-fly rules for central London include a ban on drones within 150 metres of its densely packed buildings.

Flock’s co-founder Ed Leon Klinger hopes a change in the law, coupled with the AI’s ability to find safer flight paths, would allow drones to fly on scheduled routes and times over the capital.

Delivering goods: Amazon is testing drones for possible introduction in 2020

He said: “I can foresee a situation where technology and regulation have moved on to a point where drone operations are commonplace in London, where deliveries are being undertaken.

"This is going to be happening in the next few years.”

He said the AI technology would allow drones to be programmed to fly around “areas of potential conflict” where there are privacy concerns.

Last month, it was announced that Amazon would partner with the Government to explore the viability of delivering of small parcels by drone.