Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
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Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#2They mention hard-to-reach location delivery. But it may be simply more efficient to deliver in a 'star' geometry with the van stationary and the drones dropping packages throughout a neighborhood. Save time; save on traffic and parking (park under a freeway, deliver to the business district).
Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#3They are being too timid in their thinking and designs. All they need is the driverless "engine cab" and then a transformer-like packing of drones to form the rest of the vehicle. It arrives in the neighborhood of delivery and then all the drones take off, deliver, they return, and reassemble into the driverless delivery truck.
Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#4They are being too timid in their thinking and designs. All they need is the driverless "engine cab" and then a transformer-like packing of drones to form the rest of the vehicle. It arrives in the neighborhood of delivery and then all the drones take off, deliver, they return, and reassemble into the driverless delivery truck.
I blame them for wanting to achieve a working product rather than a really cool concept.
Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#5I believe oneway drones are next so that the van doesn't have to stop moving. Then upgrade to a truck on a highway - just keep launching as the truck is maintaining 55-65 mph. Unit lands in your yard. When you get home, Remove your item, fold up the power unit, recycle the cardboard/plastic components and stick the reusable portion of the unit in your mailbox. Unit is self addressed and postage included to go back to the nearest facility.
Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#6I believe oneway drones are next so that the van doesn't have to stop moving. Then upgrade to a truck on a highway - just keep launching as the truck is maintaining 55-65 mph. Unit lands in your yard. When you get home, Remove your item, fold up the power unit, recycle the cardboard/plastic components and stick the reusable portion of the unit in your mailbox. Unit is self addressed and postage included to go back to…
Doesn't that turn the delivery problem into an exactly mirrored pickup problem? Getting the drones back would be about as much work as getting the package to you.
Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#7I believe oneway drones are next so that the van doesn't have to stop moving. Then upgrade to a truck on a highway - just keep launching as the truck is maintaining 55-65 mph. Unit lands in your yard. When you get home, Remove your item, fold up the power unit, recycle the cardboard/plastic components and stick the reusable portion of the unit in your mailbox. Unit is self addressed and postage included to go back to…
Doesn't that turn the delivery problem into an exactly mirrored pickup problem? Getting the drones back would be about as much work as getting the package to you.
updated my comment for clarity.
Recycle some of the components, and put the power/brain/battery unit in your mailbox.
Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Doesn't that turn the delivery problem into an exactly mirrored pickup problem? Getting the drones back would be about as much work as getting the package to you.
updated my comment for clarity. Recycle some of the components, and put the power/brain/battery unit in your mailbox.
If I had to get to a mailbox to return something, I would refuse to order from that company.
Re: Mercedes Benz and Matternet unveil vans that launch delivery drones
#9I believe oneway drones are next so that the van doesn't have to stop moving. Then upgrade to a truck on a highway - just keep launching as the truck is maintaining 55-65 mph. Unit lands in your yard. When you get home, Remove your item, fold up the power unit, recycle the cardboard/plastic components and stick the reusable portion of the unit in your mailbox. Unit is self addressed and postage included to go back to…
Once the payload is delivered, the return trip is faster and less energy intensive (due to less weight). Why couldn't the drone just return to the same or even a different truck? I'd assume there is more than one truck per city.