http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25180906

Part of me likes this idea, and part of me doesn’t. The part that dopes likes the notion that small things can be delivered that quickly, and the technology to support it is pretty mature. The BBC started using octocopters for its news broadcasts, but there are strict rules in this country over how they can be used (probably why the police aren’t using them yet). Also the idiot inside me wants one (and will happily settle for an r/c helicopter and a GoPro).

The part of me that does’t like this is the one that gets concerned when helicopters fall out of the sky. Now, a drone won’t cause the devastation that we saw in Glasgow, but one of those dropping from a height because of a failure, bird impact, etc. means that someone could get hit, and there will be liabilities there. Also, the whole security of your delivery is a problem.

Anyway, interesting idea nonetheless.

It does strike me they'll be somewhat more useful in Texas in the summer when there are clear blue skies and nice warm air than they would in Manchester in December in the teeming rain and howling wind. Also, do you get to keep the little clip lid yellow box?

No different to a Van crashing and hitting X pedestrians

Imagine the fun you could have with an air rifle...

Random free stuff from the sky!

Assuming the box is designed to be able to survive the crash...

Given how long it took Hermes to deliver my last Amazon order, I would like this.

That's spiffing, I applaud this idea especially because drones are less likely to suffer from psychological problems caused by working for Amazon. Hopefully they will be able to replace human workers entirely and there won't be anybody to get stressed.

Amazon deliveries always arrive while I am in the bath, and therefore every delivery guy in East London has now seen the wet, shrivelled, nakey, walking corpse I inhabit in far too much detail.
Perhaps the emotional distress this causes will be reduced if I only flash tiny helicopters from now on.

Lego can do it. Their "cathedral" (as they call it) is completely automated. Want a bucket of red 8 peg bricks. paths system can fetch some for you. If there aren't enough, it will tell the factory to make some. All automated. What humans are there, are there for maintenance.

Amazon could work something similar - automated stocking and picking, as well as ordering. An Amazon warehouse could be one huge machine sucking products in and pumping them out.

The video implies a 30 minute time window from order to delivery. So unless you have some special need to greet Amazon deliveries whilst wet and shrivelled, you could plan your shop for a more convenient time.

Sad news for all those souls on which they currently feed

My first thoughts were of a new form of highway robbery.

I am waiting for pizza deliveries to come this way!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD