The Drones are Coming! - Comments Page 1

Pre-programmed drones could deliver parts inside of buildings to free space. Self-driving UPS and FedEx trucks might be more efficient than drones. And maybe drones could replace some traffic cops.

Bob,

1) It is a long way from people saying that they expect drones within 5 years to saying that they want them.

2) If these delivery services are going to cost extra, then I don't see the economic advantage to the services to using them other than as a "cool thing". And having been in the technology field for over 30 years, I know that a "cool thing" is not always a "good thing".

3) I live in a house with two large trees in the front yard. There is no way that given today's technology they are going to be able to drop a package by drone anywhere except on the right of way or the public sidewalk where it will be prey to anyone (especially the schoolkids that walk by my house in droves every morning and afternoon). So I guess that unless I am expecting life-saving medicines there is no way that I will pay any extra to have a drone deliver a package.

Drone delivery seems to me to be very risky. I sure don't want them flying down my street. They are, after all, mechanical devices and almost certainly subject to failure. The lawyers will have a field day with drones falling from the sky.

A VERY bad idea all around: safety, privacy, drone "pollution" are just a few reasons against it. This sounds like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. It's just a way for big companies to save money and eliminate jobs (e.g. delivery personnel). I would NEVER consent to drone delivery.

Although there are lots of safety and privacy issues to be worked out, I'm confident they will be overcome. For those of us that live in slightly remote areas (i.e., not in typical urban or suburban areas), the drone delivery concept is appealing(pizza, prescriptions, groceries, etc.).

Hi Bob: I agree with your strong reservations about drone delivery! Also, I work for the US Postal Service, where parcel delivery has helped maintain its income.

Widespread drone delivery would threaten many thousands of good paying jobs with USPS, UPS and Fed Ex. Do we really need to endanger our shaky economy with massive job losses?

There are a lot of different ways to look at this. First the delivery drones, I can see a potential need for emergency items in difficult to service areas, but not so much as standard delivery. As far as registering "drones" a term many are using for any unmanned air vehicle, I can not see need for it. The RC community has had planes, helicopters and even jets for a long time with few problems, most are considerate and stay away from flight paths where they could be a problem and are just having an enjoyable afternoon. Model rockets same thing. I have a small quad copter, and have not yet had it off of my property and it has remained below the tree tops. I do plan to take it to the park in the future, but I need to be more comfortable with it first. They don't register, at least not yet, LASER pointers, but people who don't use sense in using them can and have been prosecuted. There are too many laws in existence now, we don't need more.

People willing to pay more than regular forms of delivery? really?

Since there is no cost of truck, multiple handling, delivery manpower I would expect the cost to the consumer to be less than 25% of current delivery costs.

What has gone wrong with our thinking-just because something is new we automatically should pay more? Some head shaking is in order!

I don't see it as practical. A 'pilot' would be needed for each drone, the drones would would be subject to the effects of wind and weather, and other logistical complications would be involved. How would a drone deliver to an apartment building, for instance? How would they 'read' the house numbers? I wouldn't pay a nickel extra for drone delivery considering how well the present ground system seems to be working.

This will be a mess and ton of problems. Theft will be a big problem. I would never even think of using it for our products as the losses would be so great. And if the item is not worth much then why pay the extra shipping?
Just wait and see.

Drone delivery is a monumentally bad idea. One other consideration you didn't mention was weather- would these delivery drones be able to withstand thunderstorms, snowstorms, etc.? They would have to use weather-proof packaging as well to avoid damage, which would add additional costs. Also, criminals are already following UPS trucks and stealing packages. The temptation to down drones for "fun & profit" would be very high.
We need to remember that just because we CAN do something doesn't mean we SHOULD do it.

I suspect that the idea of having doughnuts delivered to our door by drones is appealing because:

1) As a society, we want stuff NOW. Patience is not particularly plentiful.
2) Having your doughnut holes dropped in your foxhole is unique, it's unusual, it's trendy, and it's a status symbol.

I suspect that the idea will lose its appeal:

1) When crackups become commonplace.
2) When wigs are wafted away in the wind.
3) When sky delivery loses its status. Our great-grandparents were jazzed to receive a home shipment from the Sears & Roebuck catalog store--even if it was brought on a buggy. Now home delivery is so b-o-r-i-n-g we want little tiny helicopters to drop our goodies on the grass.

Yawn.

Mac

If a single drone can carry a single package, and there are multiple deliveries to be made to a single street, it's going to get very crowded. Also, if a delivery can only be made within a "reasonable distance" of say, my front porch, I'll have more worries about somebody stealing my packages than I do now.

I'm not sure this is a good idea at all. There will be a whole new criminal enterprise of stealing these deliveries. Plus the privacy concerns. What happens if they "inadvertently" see someone using drugs ? Can that person then be prosecuted ? Do we not have a RIGHT to peace and privacy in our own yards without someone "spying" on us and without being disturbed by something overhead delivering a pizza to a neighbor ? No I don't think these drones are a good idea at all to be used for commercial deliveries.

Drones delivering packages is a terrible idea. So many safety and privacy factors to overcome. This should go the way of the flying car. Just because the technology exists doesn't mean it should be used.

There's one additional component that will be required for any successful drone delivery system; a homing beacon. You would request a beacon from Amazon (or Walmart, or whoever) and they would ship you a small delivery beacon, perhaps the size of a bathroom scale. It would be coded to your Amazon Prime account, and normally plugged in via USB to your computer. When you purchase something and request "Amazon Prime Air" delivery, Amazon sends a command to your delivery beacon, telling it to expect a delivery with the following ID number. (Perhaps the beacon actually includes a scale, in which case the beacon can verify that a package of the correct weight was delivered.)

The customer gets a message to place the beacon in the BACK yard, in a space with a clear view of the sky. Apartment managers may have their own beacons, and the customer would specify the apartment house beacon code.

The drone launches with the package and navigates by GPS to the vicinity of the customer. The drone then sends a query to the beacon, the beacon replies with a "land here" code, and the drone lands ON THE BEACON, drops off the package and flies away. The beacon sends a delivery acknowledgement message to Amazon and to the customer, and the cycle is complete.

I think they are really interesting. Would love to play with one for taking pictures. I do agree with you,Bob, that it's a nightmare waiting to happen. I could see a value in them in emergency situations where smaller items could be delivered where getting in out may not be fast or easy. I can envision emergency parts for roadside assistance (think big rigs), but everyday delivery? I don't think w r e really ready for that. I see them being a fun hobby like model airplanes and such, and should be seen that way. Surveying, search and rescue, definently! It's either a tool, or a toy.

Being a man of few words -- ASININE idea.

The cost skeet shooting at range could be eliminated.

wayne
02 Nov 2015

Yours is undoubtedly the best comment in my opinion.