In response to criticism that its drone piano delivery has caused serious injuries to over 5000 bystanders when the drones dropped the piano, Milwaukee’s DropDOWN says it has taken steps to improve safety.
“We are concerned about the well being of innocent people,“ says Ian Masterson, CEO of the fledgling start-up. “At the same time, we owe it to our investors to continuously seek ways to increase profitability.” When it was launched last August, DropDOWN received over $250 million in venture capital funding, plus a year’s supply of toothpaste.
Masterson says the company plans to increase the size of two of each drone’s seven propellers, and to double engine horsepower. These changes are expected to reduce accidents by up to 12 percent.
“Anytime a new system launches one can anticipate there will be growing pains,” says the CEO. While the company expected some injuries from falling pianos, he acknowledges that it didn’t anticipate there would be 5000. “We figured 3500, tops!” he says.
“But remember, there has been a cost to us, too,” he stresses. “A grand piano is worth over $50,000, and when we drop it that’s on us.” He believes DropDOWN has been subject to more criticism than is fair for a start-up.
“Everyone’s talking about the number of people who got hurt,” he says. “What I want to talk about are the 14 pianos we’ve delivered without incident.”
