Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

abc15.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 286 posts

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#71

Post by testdummy13 »

georgemcbay wrote: post #64
guerrilla wrote: post #40

[flagged]

I don't think people should shoot them down, but I do think drone-based delivery will be rejected by consumers if it ever reaches significant scale in non-rural areas which will create a self-limiter on growth of usage. Its cool if a drone delivers your sandwich. But when the sky is littered with them because they are also delivering random stuff to all of your neighbors it very quickly becomes a lot less cool. Never…

"but I do think drone-based delivery will be rejected by consumers if it ever reaches significant scale in non-rural areas"

I'd wager it's the opposite: Rural areas would notice the one off noise of a drone flying overhead because humans notice novel sounds more. In an urban area you already have other significant sources of noise (traffic mainly) and if the drones are ubiquitous it might just be more of a background constant that people tune out.

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#72

Post by arbll »

JCM9 wrote: post #34

Flying in uncontrolled airspace in VMC is a “see and avoid” environment, meaning this looks like a pretty bad screw up by Amazon. The fact that two different drones crashed into the same object raises even more serious questions on the quality of Amazon’s tech and their ability to safely monitor it.

well at least it's consistent

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#73

Post by drcongo »

OJFord wrote: post #67
sigmoid10 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's unclear if this commenter has read more than just the headlines. Maybe they try to argue for the sake of controversy and outrage culture. Maybe they just don't have a brain. But seriously, the article text doesn't follow up with any speculation and highlights it is a developing story. According to the latest news on TV, someone actually was insured and is now at the hospital. The details are still unclear howeve…

The sentence I quoted is not in the headline.

It's actually the second to last paragraph of the "article" so proves that you made it at least most of the way through.

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#75

Post by trollbridge »

bilekas wrote: post #20

From their brief on the drones themselves: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-drone... > Our approval includes the ability to fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight, using our sophisticated on-board detect and avoid system. This is an historic, first-of-its-kind approval for a new drone system and a new operating location following a rigorous FAA evaluation of the safety of our systems and processes. It'…

The NTSB should be investigating, then.

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#76

Post by Zigurd »

neom wrote: post #3

Little after 10am, pure speculation but wonder if the angle of the sun overwhelmed the dynamic range of the image sensor over a particularly inopportune area of the frame. Guessing no LiDAR on drones like this.

Based on the descriptions I've read so far, it sounds like the drones didn't give enough space around the crane boom, which it seems like they avoided. That's not to make an excuse. But it's a different defect than failing to detect the crane boom.

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#77

Post by trollbridge »

potato3732842 wrote: post #41
jollyllama wrote: post #32

Terrifying. Imagine being a roofer or other worker when a delivery drone knocks your ass off the n-th floor surface that you're working on. It wouldn't take much to get somebody killed in such a precarious situation.

Any modern roofer or other worker that could fall far is wearing a safety harness (with some exceptions for flat roofs that have railing set up).

You don’t wear a harness when framing and roofing 1 and 2 storey buildings. What would you even attach yourself to?

“I will not be hit by an 80 pound flying missile” is a reasonable expectation for construction workers

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#78

Post by 85392_school »

OJFord wrote: post #67
sigmoid10 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's unclear if this commenter has read more than just the headlines. Maybe they try to argue for the sake of controversy and outrage culture. Maybe they just don't have a brain. But seriously, the article text doesn't follow up with any speculation and highlights it is a developing story. According to the latest news on TV, someone actually was insured and is now at the hospital. The details are still unclear howeve…

The sentence I quoted is not in the headline.

It was added as a subheading.

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#79

Post by trollbridge »

infecto wrote: post #68
potato3732842 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any modern roofer or other worker that could fall far is wearing a safety harness (with some exceptions for flat roofs that have railing set up).

I am going to wager that 90% of resi roofers are not using harnesses unless the pitch of the roof is extreme. It’s all about the couch cushion.

Generally speaking you start doing that stuff once you get to 3 or more storeys, which is why residential mass builds are typically 2 or less. Workers’ compensation will specifically have job categories for work done on buildings 2 storeys or less, and it goes way up once you get to 3 (and even more for 4+).

Even with all the gear, an unpredictable 80 lb object hurtling towards you is a major problem. Not to mention becoming a problem for any standing below.

Re: Two Amazon delivery drones crash into crane in commercial area of Tolleson, AZ

#80

Post by LeifCarrotson »

ooterness wrote: post #62
neom wrote: post #3

Little after 10am, pure speculation but wonder if the angle of the sun overwhelmed the dynamic range of the image sensor over a particularly inopportune area of the frame. Guessing no LiDAR on drones like this.

Who could have predicted that drones flying outside during the day might have to deal with direct sunlight?

No one could have known. And in Phoenix, no less, where it's famously overcast most of the time? Next you're going to tell me that a component overheated or clocked down for thermal throttling - preposterous, Phoenix is great for passive cooling! /s
Post reply on HN