Weekly grocery shop delivered to door by Drone ?
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I can accept that technically this idea is possible, what I do question is the viability of delivering to certain areas of uk that have a reputation of let's say 'being slightly on the other side of the law'. Amazon would soon run out of drones in Toxteth.
I can just about believe driverless trucks between logistics hubs but even a van delivering to private addresses is fraught with problems. What happens in a block of flats? What happens if the customer is out?
mmitch.,
mmitch.,
I would say the biggest obstacle to this is parcel weight, anything over a couple of pounds in weight is going to need a huge drone (size goes up = more battery weight to carry, etc). However if you've ordered something small and light, and there's a fair amount of that, it may well work out easier and cheaper for a drone to do it than a man+van. In a city with traffic jams it will probably be faster, too.
Don't expect Jewsons will be using them much, though.......
Don't expect Jewsons will be using them much, though.......
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
86% of Amazon deliveries weight under 5Lb, the current drone limit. They will always have a small pool of manned vehicles for the remainder and for difficult deliveries. T&Cs will no doubt reflect longer delivery times, and increased cost for those who request personal delivery, just as they allow the option of Prime/routine/no rush delivery at present.
Tourist
I sincerely doubt it. The law as it stands in the UK is that a drone cannot fly beyond Visual Line of Sight of the pilot/operator, typically around 500 metres radius and not above 400 FT above ground level, unless it is equipped with a certified "sense and avoid system" (which none currently exist) or it is flying in "segregated airspace", which excludes all manned aircraft.
As I previously mentioned until a sense and avoid system is fitted, the drone operator can secure insurance cover or the law is changed (which on safety grounds it will not) drones will not be delivering anything, unless within 500 metres of the pilot/operator.
I sincerely doubt it. The law as it stands in the UK is that a drone cannot fly beyond Visual Line of Sight of the pilot/operator, typically around 500 metres radius and not above 400 FT above ground level, unless it is equipped with a certified "sense and avoid system" (which none currently exist) or it is flying in "segregated airspace", which excludes all manned aircraft.
As I previously mentioned until a sense and avoid system is fitted, the drone operator can secure insurance cover or the law is changed (which on safety grounds it will not) drones will not be delivering anything, unless within 500 metres of the pilot/operator.
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The areas that are dodgy will have local thugs in charge of local gangs. They will start to be put out if they can't get the deliveries just like everybody else and will put a stop to it.
An example is mobile phones in Mogadishu. Somalia is a totally failed state, yet there is good coverage and nobody messes with the installers and repair men. All sides from nominal government/s to ISIS don't mess with the phones because everybody wants them to work.
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TCAS
You have not actually bothered to research a single article before spouting on here have you?
Since you are lazy...
Amazon to step up UK tests of delivery drones
https://youtu.be/_qah8oIzCwk
The law does not stand as you say for Amazon any more. The U.K. Government has removed the requirements you mention for Amazon, and I'm quite sure others will have them removed shortly.
You have not actually bothered to research a single article before spouting on here have you?
Since you are lazy...
Amazon to step up UK tests of delivery drones
https://youtu.be/_qah8oIzCwk
The law does not stand as you say for Amazon any more. The U.K. Government has removed the requirements you mention for Amazon, and I'm quite sure others will have them removed shortly.
Last edited by Tourist; 28th Jul 2016 at 08:18.
Thanks for the links Tourist, as I'm lazy too. The law though does still stand for Amazon, as it does for everyone, it is just that Amazon has been allowed certain temporary exemptions in specified "Controlled Spaces" (including near Cambridge) for the purposes of the development trials. The law may well be changed eventually, if the trials are successful of course. In which case others will indeed want to join Amazon in being authorised by the CAA as well.
The concern is not so much of such authorised users of this technology but rather those who are unauthorised. Special deliveries to prisons have already been mentioned. The general security aspects are challenging to say the least and such users won't have to comply with any CAA requirements of course...
The concern is not so much of such authorised users of this technology but rather those who are unauthorised. Special deliveries to prisons have already been mentioned. The general security aspects are challenging to say the least and such users won't have to comply with any CAA requirements of course...
Join Date: Jun 2007
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One thing has always puzzled me about using drones for delivery: what happens at the actual point of delivery? Probably 90% of deliveries to our home occur while we are out: couriers variously (depending on the nature of the package and the protocal of the carrier) leave the goods in our mailbox, on our doorstep, in our garage, with a neighbour or leave a card in our door. I can't envisage an unmanned device assessing which of these options to use, let alone having the dexterity to do so. And what happens if you are at home: do you get a phone call and go outside to meet the drone? Does it place the package on the ground for you, or lower it somehow? How will it work in crowded urban environments? How does it stop some opportunist snatching the package? What if it pouring with rain? I'll be interested to see this develop...
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
On the demo it homed on GPS then landed on a target mat. No reason why it can't home on a phone app GPS location and deliver when a code is entered. Plus they have a patent for replacement street lights with UAV roosts on top, where the parcel is delivered down when a keypad code is entered - just a mod on their current locker scheme, just pick a local street light rather than locker.
Lots of possibilities - one of the reasons for having trials,
Lots of possibilities - one of the reasons for having trials,
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I think this is an interesting development. Good to see the CAA being willing to work with the developers.
Amusing to read all the negative comments;
"Horseless carriages? Maps controlled from space? It'll never happen!"
Amusing to read all the negative comments;
"Horseless carriages? Maps controlled from space? It'll never happen!"
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It's fascinating and I'm all for it. Having worked in a similar field in the past I am familiar with many of the problems involved - hence very interested to see how this develops.
Probably 90% of deliveries to our home occur while we are out
Another opportunity might be for super-urgent deliveries, which is something Amazon are already getting into. So I spill coffee all over my keyboard while reading the Caption Competition thread, get straight on my phone (because the keyboard's U/S) to order a replacement, and half an hour later it arrives.
Edit: One of the issues with home delivery is that most delivery drivers want to work during the day, whereas most people want their packages delivered during the evening. Throw UAV's into the mix, and it becomes just as easy to deliver your package at 3am as it is at 3pm...
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I would be interested to see how they plan on avoiding the squllions of overhead cables in an urban environment. Are they all logged into a GPS database? And what happens if there's a temporary structure/crane/cable in the delivery area?
..........and the Yodel drone was seen to dive bomb from 1000ft to 50 feet in a manner of seconds, release your parcel into the roof of next doors house and fly off at speed, never to be seen again.
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The law though does still stand for Amazon, as it does for everyone, it is just that Amazon has been allowed certain temporary exemptions in specified "Controlled Spaces" (including near Cambridge) for the purposes of the development trials. The law may well be changed eventually, if the trials are successful of course. In which case others will indeed want to join Amazon in being authorised by the CAA as well.
Can anyone say with current battery technology what would be the max return range of a drone carrying 5lb parcel? Would the shooters out there reccomend No5 or No6 cartridge ? 😉
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I would go for No. 4 myself. Or dear old Paddy Woods' No. 5 Express, with a 1 1/4 oz load.