Startup idea list • Hacker News Board

Re: Startup idea list

#271

Post by 27182818284 » Tue, Sep 25, 2012, 6:25 PM UTC

wpietri wrote: post #133

cryptoz wrote: post #2

Here's a few I've been thinking about: - Remote aid delivery by drone: build and send small robotic aircraft to remote areas and drop aid, preferably starting with medicine (lightweight and very useful). Small helicopters (quadrotor drone copters as you see at TED/MIT) could land and accept return packages if necessary. Trips could be made to hazardous places where human-driven aid drops can't venture. Additionally,…

My low-rent version of the drone delivery idea is the burrito cannon. You order burritos via your phone. When they're ready, your phone tells you to go stand outside. Once there's a solid GPS fix, a precise, high-powered catapult throws the delivery package way up in the air. Like a smart bomb, it uses tailfin guidance to home in on your phone, popping a 'chute at the end.

http://tacocopter.com/ ? Is this you or is tacocopter a joke that inspired you, by chance?

Re: Startup idea list

#272

Post by lionel_lei » Sat, Sep 29, 2012, 6:07 AM UTC

Here is an idea (rather ambitious) I am kicking around recently. It's not a novel idea and many entities are pursuing it right now, however I think they are going in the wrong direction. That is mobile wallet, the ecosystem the big players are proposing have some weakness. This is what I propose: 1. no special hardware required for merchant to adopt. All you need is access to a browser to begin accepting mobile wallet payment. 2. no NFC needed, with location and QR code, you could do what NFC can do. 3. software could do a lot of smart thing for security, such as tying the user account to a specific device/location/time for authorized transactions. 4. as for payment solution, one could just use Amazon's payment service, so that you don't have to store the user's financial information. 5. value added service, such as analytics for merchant, coupon, deals, loyalty, sharing, etc.

I know the mobile wallet space is very competitive and full of heavy weights, but I don't think they are doing all of the above. i.e., google wallet require merchant to have specialize NFC readers installed.

To implement all of these is not that difficult technically, but I am not sure how challenge it is in terms of meeting certain regulatory requirements. Is mobiel wallet platform subject to FDIC, EFT, and other financial regulation?

Re: Startup idea list

#273

Post by sabat » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 5:55 AM UTC

aam1r wrote: post #56

sabat wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually a compelling idea—I've been kicking around a similar idea for a while, where you'd like to buy something (e.g. a 2TB SATA drive) but only when it goes on sale below a certain price threshold. The problem is: what's the business model (i.e. where does the money come from)?

Have you checked out Priceonomics? They're a YC startup that gives you analytics on the market price of a product and send you notifications when the item is available for a good price.

I have not, but I am so not surprised that someone else had the idea, probably made it better, and is in business.

Re: Startup idea list

#274

Post by santhosht » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 6:42 AM UTC

vasco wrote: post #46

cryptoz wrote: post #2

Here's a few I've been thinking about: - Remote aid delivery by drone: build and send small robotic aircraft to remote areas and drop aid, preferably starting with medicine (lightweight and very useful). Small helicopters (quadrotor drone copters as you see at TED/MIT) could land and accept return packages if necessary. Trips could be made to hazardous places where human-driven aid drops can't venture. Additionally,…

Regarding idea no. 2. You realize that putting electronics inside a microwave isn't as simple as that, right? http://i.imgur.com/OFEg9.gif

I was wondering how one would transmit image/video feed from inside to outside in realtime? Any hole to transmit the feed is gonna be a no-no(radiation leakage). Basically, if there is path for some EM communication from inside to outside, then MW radiation will also leak along that path(unless the path has some sort of band pass characteristics). You could do some kind of time slotted transmission(In one slot, close the communication hole to make a perfect metal box, turn on microwave. In next slot, turn off microwave, open hole and transmit video feed. Make the time slot ~msec for near real time feed).

With some kick ass marketing it should be possible to get the message to people - 1000x reduction in radiation!(?) why take the remote chance of effects of radiation!!

Interesting....

Re: Startup idea list

#275

Post by santhosht » Mon, Oct 01, 2012, 6:42 AM UTC

vasco wrote: post #46

cryptoz wrote: post #2

Here's a few I've been thinking about: - Remote aid delivery by drone: build and send small robotic aircraft to remote areas and drop aid, preferably starting with medicine (lightweight and very useful). Small helicopters (quadrotor drone copters as you see at TED/MIT) could land and accept return packages if necessary. Trips could be made to hazardous places where human-driven aid drops can't venture. Additionally,…

Regarding idea no. 2. You realize that putting electronics inside a microwave isn't as simple as that, right? http://i.imgur.com/OFEg9.gif

I was wondering how one would transmit image/video feed from inside to outside in realtime? Any hole to transmit the feed is gonna be a no-no(radiation leakage). Basically, if there is path for some EM communication from inside to outside, then MW radiation will also leak along that path(unless the path has some sort of band pass characteristics). You could do some kind of time slotted transmission(In one slot, close the communication hole to make a perfect metal box, turn on microwave. In next slot, turn off microwave, open hole and transmit video feed. Make the time slot ~msec for near real time feed).

With some kick ass marketing it should be possible to get the message to people - 1000x reduction in radiation!(?) why take the remote chance of effects of radiation!!

Interesting....