Amazons drones - seriously?

[lazlo]

NSA is the only government agency that listens to the people.

The NSA customer service motto: "You speak, we listen!"

[wierdscience]

Good point Darin, but UPS delivers those packages in parallel strings: to you and all your neighbors, whereas Bezos' quadcopters would have to do each delivery point to point.

In any case, there's not a quadcopter on Earth that can deliver a 5 pound package on a 20 mile round-trip (what Bezos claimed on 60 Minutes).
Like Steve says, unless there's some radical improvement in battery technology...

Or a quadrotor design built around a LTA lifting body.If the bag is supporting the weight,then only the propulsion and flight path need be handled by the rotors.

Similar to this concept,but much smaller and VTOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3n5cUaG5fg&list=PLB2EF49D0183455F2

[Weston Bye]

having just seen the second installment of the hunger games, I more favor the little parachute delivery scheme. Just perfect the cheap parasail guidance package and let gravity do the work after ejecting the packages from a jet flying at altitude. The customer would then cut off the parachute, uncouple the parcel and drop the return-addressed guidance package in the mail for a refund.

Just be careful about shipping a lathe or bridgeport in such a manner. I have seen you-tube videos of military air drops gone bad.

[CCWKen]

Today's editorial cartoon was pretty funny. It showed Santa's sleigh on the ground with a For Sale sign, reindeer eating out of a garbage can and the sky filled with Amazon drones.

Well, I guess you had to be there.

[Danl]

And how long before thieves figure out ways of hijacking these little packages? Perhaps redirecting to other locations..... hmmm

Dan

[lost_cause]

And how long before thieves figure out ways of hijacking these little packages? Perhaps redirecting to other locations..... hmmm

Dan

like this?

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/hijacking-drone-uav-aircraft-texas-students-prove-hackers/story?id=16699686

[Abner]

Of course range could be extended by using a "Mr.Fusion" coupled with a Flux Capacitor, thereby making deliveries this way very do-able.

[derekm]

You don't need a GUA-8 that's overkill, better to go with one of the 5.56MM versions. Up to 10K rds/min. better chance of getting a hit when you don't have proximity fused explosive shells.

whats wrong with a bow and arrow?

[Rosco-P]

My airspace is defended by a pair of these that have been heavily modified by Red Jacket Firearms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTs7VRFV36c

[jdunmyer]

Don't shoot the drones! See: http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...?click=pm_news

[ckelloug]

It may be related to the fact that FAA is just starting to work on the rules for drone airspace rules. . . of which I heard people gossiping about at work today.

[lazlo]

Don't shoot the drones! See: http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...?click=pm_news

"Try to relax—unmanned aircraft are not here to hurt you. So try not to shoot them."

It's not the drone that hurts you, it's the high explosive warhead on the Hellfire missile that hurts you -- LOL!

[wierdscience]

Don't fear the Reaper LOL

[boslab]

Hope amazon dont start using missiles to defend thier drones!
Mark

[MichaelP]

Healthy competition:

http://www.rockcitytimes.com/walmart-install-mini-surface-air-missiles-store-roofs-shoot-amazon-drones/