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Amazon testing drones for deliveries http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=20693	Page 1 of 1

Author:

paulzolo [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 10:40 am ]

Post subject:

Amazon testing drones for deliveries


	Quote: Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, is testing unmanned drones to deliver goods to customers, Chief Executive Jeff Bezos says. The drones, called Octocopters, could deliver packages weighing up to 2.3kg to customers within 30 minutes of them placing the order, he said.

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.

Author:	jonbwfc [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 10:56 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries
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?

Author:

hifidelity2 [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 11:40 am ]

Post subject:

Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries

paulzolo wrote:


	Quote: Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, is testing unmanned drones to deliver goods to customers, Chief Executive Jeff Bezos says. The drones, called Octocopters, could deliver packages weighing up to 2.3kg to customers within 30 minutes of them placing the order, he said.

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

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.

No different to a Van crashing and hitting X pedestrians

Author:	ProfessorF [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 12:10 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries
Imagine the fun you could have with an air rifle...

Author:

paulzolo [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 1:08 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries


	ProfessorF wrote: Imagine the fun you could have with an air rifle...

Random free stuff from the sky! :lol:

Author:

jonbwfc [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 2:33 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries


	paulzolo wrote: Random free stuff from the sky!

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

Author:	james016 [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries
Given how long it took Hermes to deliver my last Amazon order, I would like this.

Author:	koli [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries
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.

Author:	ShockWaffle [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries
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.

Author:

paulzolo [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 4:13 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries


	koli wrote: 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.

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.

Author:

paulzolo [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 4:14 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries


	ShockWaffle wrote: 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.

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.

Author:

ShockWaffle [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 4:33 pm ]

Post subject:

Re: Amazon testing drones for deliveries


	paulzolo wrote: 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.

Sad news for all those souls on which they currently feed