Weekly grocery shop delivered to door by Drone ?
 

Day before yesterday, the news Channels were full of the "Drone Mail Order/Groceries Delivery" story. Reaction (1): pinch myself, (2): check was not Apl 1st, (3): Roll about in helpless laughter for a while (not good at my age)...

Partially recovered, looked round Internet a bit, seems more than a daft idea - there is actually hardware in the metal.

What do other PPRuNers think ? (Would need hundreds/thousands new Drone "Pilots" ?) - any hope for well-ish-preserved 94 yr old with 1,000 + hrs mostly single-engine straight wing tail dragger time ?. (Would work from home) ?

Tongue in cheek,

Danny42C.:ok:

EDIT: No replies to me, please - I've just broached the subject to set the ball rolling !..D

Less bothered about grocery/on-line purchases delivery than what the less scrupulous around the world, south of the Mediterranean (well don't want to sound racist) might use them for

I believe this is already the case within several of our prisons, but the "groceries" are somewhat different from Tesco's.......

Why? It just needs GPS and someone to monitor a clutch of them at a control centre. I mean assuming they can get around that whole pesky requirement to remain in visual contact with the thing.

I dont want you delivering my order Danny, if you dont mind. After you've dive bombed my house with a bag of groceries from 3,000' I dont think they are going to be in very good shape - the eggs will definitely be broken, for a start ;)

Amazon are already addressing that aspect:-
From The Times 26th July

If it's my shopping, then you'd need a Huey! They'd be better off putting them in a driverless Tesla or sumfink!

Bing et al,
Did 17 years Air Traffic Controller, too - am I still in the running ?

Doesn't somebody have to take off and land the critters ? Santa Claus ?

Tongue still firmly in cheek !

Danny.

Its not going to happen anytime soon in the UK. Current civil aviation legislation, and any foreseeable developments of it will not permit a drone free for all.

When the media announces that there is a certified drone sense-and-avoid system on the market to stop drones bumping in to anything (on the ground and in the air) and an insurance company will take on the risk of airborne deliveries, its all a lot of hot air. Current news stories deserve to go straight into "trash".

TCAS Fan

Have you been watching the news?

It is happening now. The government has given the go-ahead to start it happening.

You don't see the deeper plan.

Drones to do the delivery; street lights to allow collection without paying shops; not only recharging but also, doubtless, Amazon Prime Wi-FI cells to bypass the ISPs; and taking the cost of supporting and maintaining them off the local council.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-...street-lights/

Look deeper.....

IIRC, the USAF tried airborne delivery in Bosnia. Enterprising entrepreneurs kept the parcels and doled out contents for hard cash.

Imagine an Amazon miss delivery - deny all knowledge.

With the drone recording video?

Surveillance as well, airborne CCTV?

Has to have, to identify the mat shown in their demo video...

Even the very, very, cheapest sold in Currys/PC World in the UK include 4K video as standard.

Just has to link into the street light wifi to uplink the video of the person connecting the parcel - and if a mat no doubt and imbedded RFID

I'd be interested to see the sense-and-avoid that allows a drone to avoid the FJ approaching it at 450 knots and 250 feet from just round the valley. In fact I'm very glad I'm not an FJ pilot for that same reason.

They have had to avoid the organic flying objects since they started - and they are far more numerous. I doubt there are many customers within 25km of a drone depot in the Welsh valleys - and no FJ below 500ft of the major cities/towns where they'd offer the service.

Don't make up issues which only can be easily dismissed - they only make the public dismiss all disquietes.

Apart from this being quite the most ridiculous idea since the Airlander gasbag, just what weather conditions could these Amazon drones accept?

"Sorry, but the delivery drone was last know of when it encountered a rain storm - we've no idea where your package might be"

The CAA claims it is understaffed. So why is it wasting time on this drone bolleaux when there are more pressing issues still waiting to be resolved?

I believe that DHL are testing a drone capable of delivering packages to a distribution centre!

BEagle

You persist in characterising this as ridiculous.
Airlander, you may be right. Maybe it will never work, who knows. It has none of the serious money backing behind it.

The drone delivery thing is different. Amazon and others are doing it. It is going to be a reality in the near future.

They have comedically limitless funds and very very clever people by the busload.
They also have something that people want, and something that has potentially huge disruptive effects on commerce and travel. If 90% of delivery trucks were removed from roads, the effect would be brilliant. (not so good for the drivers) If you can get things delivered in 30mins from purchase, again society will experience major changes.

Why do you question weather?! Why should weather have any effect whatsoever? There are drones that kids can buy now that are totally submergible. You can throw them in rivers. They have extremely strong control authority.

Are you not slightly worried that you are going to look silly when this very obviously happening technology starts delivering to your street? Will you come on here and admit you were wrong?