News - Amazon testing Octocopter ‘Prime Air’ drones for 30 min deliveries

[HEXUS]

The unmanned drone can carry up to 2.3Kg.

Read more.

[Rapp]

Very interesting idea, but in practice I can't really see it happening in the UK.

[TheAnimus]

why not? we are more densely populated than the US. Or do you mean that the CAA aren't as forward thinking as the FAA?

[davidcrofter]

What happens if you live in a flat then?? Do you simply leave a window open??

[Funkstar]

Been thinking about this one since I first read about it a few hours ago. I think this does actually make a lot of sense, but only in some situations or areas.

The areas Amazon fulfillment centers are built next to good infrastructure so they can get large numbers of orders away in trucks quickly. But what about the areas around said fulfillment centers? These orders have to be trucked to the distribution center for the chosen delivery agent, then put on smaller wagons then sent to the house. I know people that can almost see the Dunfermline facility from their house, this is when a drone would be good. Housing areas round there are new developments of detached houses, relatively well off and probably very likely to order lots of little things from Amazon. Instead of paying a couple of pounds to Royal Mail to deliver something that could probably be done on foot if you really wanted, you could fly it over. That's the bit I think makes sense. Once the cost of the drones have been overcome, you are talking about pennies, or even fractions of a penny to deliver items within that 30 minute area.

Also tying in with this, I bet it would be really easy to build a delivery slot function into this option. You could choose a 30min slot any time in the evening when you are going to be home to meet the drone. It won't ever effect me, I'm extremely unlikely to ever live close enough to an Amazon fulfillment centre, but I do like the concept.

[crossy]

What happens if you live in a flat then?? Do you simply leave a window open??

Unguided rocket through the wall - instant access! Skynet now delivers...

The areas Amazon fulfillment centers are built next to good infrastructure so they can get large numbers of orders away in trucks quickly. But what about the areas around said fulfillment centers? These orders have to be trucked to the distribution center for the chosen delivery agent, then put on smaller wagons then sent to the house. I know people that can almost see the Dunfermline facility from their house ...

I can't see the Dunfermline, (nor the Glenrothes one it replaced), fulfilment centre from where I live, but I'm pretty close. I can't help thinking that Amazon are missing a trick here. Instead of a "we'll deliver it between X:00 and Y:00" arrangement, turn it on it's head and give the great unwashed a chance to pick up their parcel from the centre directly. Just allow a certain number of "collection slots" per hour on a first-come-first-served basis booked in advance.

Then again, it might be coincidence but since the (never to be sufficiently damned) Royal Mail privatisation I've heard more and more people complain that their deliveries either go missing or are very much delayed. I've had one "next day" appear two days later a while ago, and have currently got one "missing presumed lost". And no I'm not pointing fingers at the staff - don't think I'd like to be in their position being the latest government "cash cow".

[djsarcher]

All sounds a bit Jetson's to me. Would be really fun though, I wonder if they could deliver it to your GPS location. You could be walking down the street and suddenly there's a drone floating over you with your parcel! Might be at risk of theft though.

[virtuo]

All sounds a bit Jetson's to me. Would be really fun though, I wonder if they could deliver it to your GPS location. You could be walking down the street and suddenly there's a drone floating over you with your parcel! Might be at risk of theft though.

Would be handy if the Hunger Games ever got real

[SUMMONER]

love it, I want Prime Air now now now.

[akhiltu]

so i will put a trap and get that done too 2 items for 1

[jimbouk]

Drone vs pet dog, who's taking bets?

[Ithilstone]

nice and hopeful soon in UK

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This will overpriced I suspect.Meh.

Just go to a shop instead!

Edit!!

Interesting about the CIA link.

How many years until we find items from Amazon,pre-bugged by the CIA??

[herulach]

they're already running same day delivery in a lot of places, and like the sunday stuff they were talking about, beyond the ordering it once because it comes on a helicopter which is pretty bloody awesome, I can't see anyone using it due to the inevitable insane cost implications.

Assuming they become ubiquitous some form of these + those secure home delivery boxes would be pretty awesome, can just see a dhl wagon dropping its sides to release an army of drones to do whole housing estate at once.

[kingpotnoodle]

Drone vs pet dog, who's taking bets?

I imagine even if your dog is the damager that Amazon would be charging you a little extra...

Delivering in UK cities I could imagine the local pigeons could be a flight risk, and what about inclement weather?

Perhaps larger drone motherships could extend the range... oooh - AIRSHIPS!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]