Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#21

Post by Udik » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:11 PM UTC

michaelt wrote: post #11

There's a better video of the drones here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prhDrfUgpB0 Google's delivery drones combine a multirotor design with fixed-wings. It seems like an eminently sensible design to me; fixed-wing operation will be quieter and more power-efficient, allowing longer travel distances (unlike the early Amazon Prime Air videos [1]), while hover capability avoids the need to parachute the load (unlike…

Hadn't heard of Zipline. And when I read it I imagined a simple cableway with small autonomous cars zipping along the line, possibly with branching points. I suspect it would be way cheaper to set up as an infrastructure and much more reliable than drones.

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#22

Post by golergka » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:11 PM UTC

mrtksn wrote: post #14

golergka wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Current deaddrop schemes seem to be working quite well, drones would be much easier to target than just a random person walking around.

One needs to restock these dead drops, right? Maybe a distributor can bypass all the small time street dealers and create an empire whose only distribution channel is drones.

You must be from US - it seems to be lagging behind in that area. Here, there are not street dealers anymore, deaddrops are how end users buy it. And hiring a stream of low-skill couriers that end up in jail after 2-3 months of working for anonymous boss is way cheaper and safer than flying drones from your own location.

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#23

Post by justtopost » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:13 PM UTC

god_bless_texas wrote: post #18

Interesting, the FAA has announced the first drone delivery air carrier approval in the US will happen in April. I would have thought Flirtey would win this race but according to the NYT the only application listed is from Google Wing.

Strong arm lobbying has its uses.

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#24

Post by originalvichy » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:13 PM UTC

reustle wrote: post #3

Ignoring the noise, politics, and financial feasibility of this, we sure are living in the damn future.

The noise just comes from the size of the rotors. Large propellers have a lower whine sound which makes them bearable

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#25

Post by justtopost » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:15 PM UTC

fifnir wrote: post #10

I just want to have a pizza delivered to my balcony one day

When in college, I once delivered to a 3rd story balcony via ladder. Anything is possible if you hire the right people. Unfortunately, this service requires a large spot in your yard. Sorry apartment dwellers.

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#26

Post by lawlessone » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:16 PM UTC

djhworld wrote: post #13

mrtksn wrote: post #8

I personally expect that the first successful drone delivery service will be implemented by some sophisticated drug dealers because unlike with all these drone delivery services, they would need to be quiet and reliably deliver products instead of publicity.

Already happening here in the UK, especially in prisons where external dealers can drop packages over using a drone

happens in Ireland too.

They allegedly used one to deliver take away too..

https://www.thesun.ie/news/3193503/inmates-drone-deliver-chi...

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/drone-use...

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#27

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:17 PM UTC

mrtksn wrote: post #8

I personally expect that the first successful drone delivery service will be implemented by some sophisticated drug dealers because unlike with all these drone delivery services, they would need to be quiet and reliably deliver products instead of publicity.

[deleted]

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#28

Post by NotPaidToPost » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:34 PM UTC

You can now have shrimps literally thrown onto the barbie from the sky.

We live in the future.

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#29

Post by Cthulhu_ » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:43 PM UTC

cs02rm0 wrote: post #16

michaelt wrote: post #11

There's a better video of the drones here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prhDrfUgpB0 Google's delivery drones combine a multirotor design with fixed-wings. It seems like an eminently sensible design to me; fixed-wing operation will be quieter and more power-efficient, allowing longer travel distances (unlike the early Amazon Prime Air videos [1]), while hover capability avoids the need to parachute the load (unlike…

I wonder if the winch is to prevent people nicking the drone.

Why would they? How often are delivery trucks stolen, for example?

Re: Google Wing will deliver to about 100 homes in Canberra

#30

Post by bluedino » Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 1:43 PM UTC

golergka wrote: post #12

mrtksn wrote: post #8

I personally expect that the first successful drone delivery service will be implemented by some sophisticated drug dealers because unlike with all these drone delivery services, they would need to be quiet and reliably deliver products instead of publicity.

Current deaddrop schemes seem to be working quite well, drones would be much easier to target than just a random person walking around.

Don't drones have to be controlled from a certain distance? Most prisons around here are in remote areas, so if you see car pulled over on the side of the road near a prison, maybe they are flying a drone to deliver contraband.