Amazon details drone delivery plans
bbc.co.uk
Amazon details drone delivery plans
1–10 of 20 posts
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#2I don't see any implementatin details in that patent, only a very rough sketch of how such a system could work (but many important details missing!) It could be me though.
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#3I don't see any implementatin details in that patent, only a very rough sketch of how such a system could work (but many important details missing!) It could be me though.
Yeah, I am wondering about the limits of range, package weight, recharging operations and more for this kind of use. There are probably many headaches involved in implementing such projects.
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#4First sentence: "According to the patent, the drones will be able to track the location of the person it is delivering to by pulling data from their smartphone."
Further down: "Using Audi's...communications system...DHL delivery drivers would track a customer's vehicle over a specified period of time and then use a digital access code to unlock the boot. This code would then expire as soon as the boot was shut."
...well this is all a little more unsettling than having your mailman or a FedEx driver drop by your house
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#5I don't see any implementatin details in that patent, only a very rough sketch of how such a system could work (but many important details missing!) It could be me though.
Yeah, I am wondering about the limits of range, package weight, recharging operations and more for this kind of use. There are probably many headaches involved in implementing such projects.
Range could be handled by having recharging stations spread out through a city (a drone could also swap batteries). However, the challenge is to keep the solution as low-cost as possible, because drones will be lost to weather, crashes, etc.
None of this is addressed though.
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, I am wondering about the limits of range, package weight, recharging operations and more for this kind of use. There are probably many headaches involved in implementing such projects.
Range could be handled by having recharging stations spread out through a city (a drone could also swap batteries). However, the challenge is to keep the solution as low-cost as possible, because drones will be lost to weather, crashes, etc. None of this is addressed though.
Why is the challenge to keep costs low?
If this means I can have something delivered in 45 minutes, or maybe 20 minutes!, they can charge a premium for that. Otherwise I wait for the big truck to bring it by within 2 days and it's free. Right now there is no solution at any cost, in my market, by which I can order almost any product from Amazon and have it within a few hours.
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#7There's so many hurdles to overcome with this, regulatory is likely the lesser of their worries. Drones now are (To my knowledge) using open spectrum radio waves without encryption, just generic hobby level stuff. Making them exceedingly easy to hijack. As we've already seen this with the parrot drones.
I can see them trying to go with something like 2, maybe 3g cellular for communications. That would be really good for distance, but not if they can't exceed the pilots view.
Then we have to consider the concept of having physical pilots. I find it difficult to believe that paying people to fly drones would be any more efficient short range for small parcels. They could maybe push the 1 day delivery to 1 hour delivery for common items, if you live within 500ft of the Amazon warehouse with a clear view of your house.
Don't get me wrong, drones are really freaking cool, and I totally want them showing up in 10min from purchase with emergency condoms. However, it's going to be a logistical nightmare, at least for the first little while until they can be fully automated with programmed routes and little human interaction.
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#8First sentence: "According to the patent, the drones will be able to track the location of the person it is delivering to by pulling data from their smartphone." Further down: "Using Audi's...communications system...DHL delivery drivers would track a customer's vehicle over a specified period of time and then use a digital access code to unlock the boot. This code would then expire as soon as the boot was shut." ...w…
Don't opt for that service then. If you are more comfortable with it, just tick the "Deliver to my home" box..
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#9First sentence: "According to the patent, the drones will be able to track the location of the person it is delivering to by pulling data from their smartphone." Further down: "Using Audi's...communications system...DHL delivery drivers would track a customer's vehicle over a specified period of time and then use a digital access code to unlock the boot. This code would then expire as soon as the boot was shut." ...w…
It's probably only an option in the amazon mobile app. I doubt they would track your phone with NSA style tech.
Re: Amazon details drone delivery plans
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
Range could be handled by having recharging stations spread out through a city (a drone could also swap batteries). However, the challenge is to keep the solution as low-cost as possible, because drones will be lost to weather, crashes, etc. None of this is addressed though.
Why is the challenge to keep costs low? If this means I can have something delivered in 45 minutes, or maybe 20 minutes!, they can charge a premium for that. Otherwise I wait for the big truck to bring it by within 2 days and it's free. Right now there is no solution at any cost, in my market, by which I can order almost any product from Amazon and have it within a few hours.
Amazon already does same-day delivery in more areas than you're likely to see drone-delivery in the next 5-10 years.
In most places, the fancy technology has zero advantage over employing a handful of couriers. Exceptions would include extreme geography or traffic conditions.