Bunuel
Increased use of autonomous delivery drones is sometimes advocated as a safe way to transport packages in crowded urban areas. But opponents of drone delivery point to the 60 incidents involving unexpected loss of control that were reported just last year at two existing drone-delivery companies operating in major cities. Since designs for proposed new drone fleets include no additional safeguards to prevent such losses of control, accidents will only become more prevalent if use of drone delivery increases.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) In only a small fraction of the reported incidents did a drone’s loss of control result in property damage or injury.
(B) Other methods of package delivery, such as bicycle couriers, have not been proven less accident-prone than drone delivery.
(C) The current fleets at existing drone-delivery companies are large enough to handle increased delivery volume without any need for new drones.
(D) The frequency of unexpected loss-of-control reports in newly launched drone fleets is about the same as the frequency in older fleets.
(E) At the two companies where losses of control were reported, many drone operators had received only minimal training on how to intervene when automated systems malfunctioned.
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The passage speaks about drones - specifically, autonomous delivery drones.
Proponents : These drones can be effective in urban areas. Because, urban areas are usually crowded, and delivery takes a longer time, moreover the package is delivered safely.
Opponents: They cite 60 incidents which took place last year at few major cities, where the drones lost control UNEXPECTEDLY. These drones were operated by 2 major drone companies.
Since, The
proposed new drone fleet designs, include no additional safeguards to prevent such unexpected accidents.
They conclude accidents will increase , as delivery drones usage also increases.
IF
Delivery Drones INCREASES —————-> Accidents INCREASES. We need to find a seriously weakening option from the following, this gives us a clue that
there is another weakening statement of lesser intent. A) In only a small fraction of the reported incidents did a drone’s loss of control result in property damage or injury.
This option speaks about the reported accident incidents, out of which 60 incidents even though a smaller fraction has resulted in damage or loss of property. Here are few things to be aware of. Firstly, if 60 is a small fraction of reported incidents, then the number of reported incidents should be a greater figure. Secondly, the number of unreported incidents, which can be any number. Just considering the reported incidents figure, we can say the accidents are high.
This option speaks on the severity of incidents, while the actual debate is around the number of accidents. Hence, Wrong.
B) Other methods of package delivery ,such as bicycle couriers, have not been proven less accident prone than drone delivery.
This option shifts its focus to other methods of delivery, while the actual debate revolves around automated drone delivery and the accidents while using it. This is a diversion tactics used by people to evade the problem, and increasing the scope of issue to dilute it. Hence, wrong.
C) The current fleets at existing drone delivery companies are large enough to handle increased delivery volume without any need of new drones.
The issue is not between new drones vs old drones - which has caused more accidents and damage. As earlier instances of accidents has occured, the trend that incorporating new drones might increase the number of accidents. This option speaks on capacity handling, which is irrelevant. Hence, wrong.
D) The frequency of unexpected loss of control reports in newly launched drone fleets is about the same as the frequency of older fleets.
If the frequency of accidents hasn’t changed, then there is a fundamental flaw in the system or design of operation. With more fleets being added to the arsenal, we might expect the accident figures to shoot up. Hence, it strengthens the conclusion.
E) At the two companies where losses of control were reported, many drone operators had received only minimal training on how to intervene when automated systems malfunctioned. This option explains the cause of accidents - as many people operating the drones have received lesser training, this could have resulted in unexpected loss of control , eventually leading to injuries. As the training phase, might help them learn a bit more of how effective can the drones be handled, we might expect the accident rates to fall.
That doesn’t mean, adding more drones will lead to more accidents. May be the new drones might have an improved version of combat the issue of unexpected loss of control. Hence, a weakener. As it’s not the drones which are faulty, but the person who is handling it.
Option E