Amazon to deliver parcels using drones

[Old Greg]

i can see that going down well --- not!!!

scallys and chavs shooting them down 'for a laugh'

First time I took a train from Leeds to Manchester, I didn't understand why the other passengers ducked when we entered East Manchester until the incoming air rifle pellets started.

[DirtyDog]

Amazon to deliver parcels using drones

Having answered the door to some of the Yodel drivers, I'd say they already do

[d000hg]

Not sure it's a great fit for the UK but it's very cool.

Gave me an idea for a plan B... for only £100 you can order a pint to be flown directly to your hand.

[AtW]

i can see that going down well --- not!!!

scallys and chavs shooting them down 'for a laugh'

They'll just have to fly high altitude missions then...

[AtW]

They can't even knock at a door or ring a doorbell

They can ring designated mobile phone number ...

[oracleslave]

They can ring designated mobile phone number ...

Will this technology arrive before your new sofa?

[AtW]

Will this technology arrive before your new sofa?

Most likely

[SueEllen]

They can ring designated mobile phone number ...

So how to I tell them that number 32 is in but I'm not?

I presume it will all be done by SMS like a few courier companies use now?

[d000hg]

So how to I tell them that number 32 is in but I'm not?

I presume it will all be done by SMS like a few courier companies use now?

The whole point of drone delivery seems to be for super-quick fulfilment - Amazon mention 30 minutes. In that scenario they can quite happily make it a requirement that you are there to receive the parcel in person.

I can see it fraught with lots of other difficulties for delivering though, especially in an urban area:

• Positioning is a big issue. It has to know where relative to your house to land, and that information isn't on a map. You'd have to be able to give it absolutely pinpoint location information on a map somehow.
• Someone just nicking the thing - they must be worth a lot of money, these drones.
• Checking the right person collects the item (actually that's probably easy, it scans a barcode or something you provide)

I imagine a fairly decent AI is needed - unless the idea is a human operator flies the drone at least part of the time - that could drastically simplify the problems.

[Cliphead]

I imagine a fairly decent AI is needed - unless the idea is a human operator flies the drone at least part of the time - that could drastically simplify the problems.

The tech works well but as I mentioned earlier autonomous flight is banned in the UK and unlikely to change. I know this cos I have a drone (a rather large fixed wing type), and in discussions with the CAA the rules are basically;

Pilot must be in control and in visual range at all times.
If flying first person via a cockpit camera a spotter must be present and the aircraft within visual range.
No flight over 400ft AGL

Just a publicity stunt.