Amazon Air Clarkson

NorCalAthlete

NorCalAthlete

O_o
I'd imagine there would have to be a few extra checks:

1. Are you home and able to take delivery right now?
2. Do you have a nearby location where you can receive your delivery?
3. Are you within range of a round trip flight for the UAV?

1 and 2 seem necessary for the video's method of delivery. Notice that it picks up on the Amazon sign she places on the ground as a landing zone. This actually may make it easier for the drone than having to scan for a specific size area - just place the sign and it knows the area's good to go. On the other hand, people who live in an apartment complex would likely have issues.

3 seems like an absolute requirement, with padding in case of weather or a heavier load that puts more strain on the drone. Furthermore, what about multiple deliveries? Doesn't seem very efficient to be sending one package out at a time, and at only 55 mph. Motorcycle couriers would probably be cheaper and nearly as fast.
 
NorCalAthlete

NorCalAthlete

O_o
mosquito said:
I like this part.
Click to expand...

I mean...pay me a certain amount of gas, half my insurance and the possibility of full insurance (for my bike at least) contingent on a clean driving record, and pay me like a UPS driver, and I'll make runs carrying your little packages for a part time job no problem. A shoebox like in the video will easily fit into a backpack. Hell, if you really want to standardize it, I'm sure you could purchase a fleet of SV650s or something similar for far cheaper than the drones. Long term, maybe it'll cost a bit more for the moto couriers in terms of hourly wages and such, but...I'd really need to know how much those drones are costing them to crunch the numbers, and I'm sure there are people here who know numbers better than me.
 
mosquito

mosquito

Above all I like to play.
Heck. If it were implemented here, I bet Amazon would have tracking devices on the bikes and it would spell out acceptable delivery riding behavior. This would turn into a good thing for us as the liveried bikes would be quickly recognized by everyone and the better riding behavior would quickly be seen as the norm by the non-riding public.
 
carries an axe

carries an axe

meat bone meat meat meat
their biggest hurdle is the FAA.
The FAA just granted our 333 permitting us to fly for profit however we are flying smaller craft comparably as well as not being over urban areas.

I went to the NASA/AUVSI presentation on the state of sense and avoid it it's not there yet.

Amazon Air prime teem was pretty tightlipped about their equipment when I was at their SF office for a presentation.

battery tech will be a problem as well unless they know something the rest of us don't.
The VTOL wing design helps though.

major props for them for pushing this though as the big companies like this are the ones that are helping us little guys force the FAA to act.
 
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carries an axe

carries an axe

meat bone meat meat meat
here is Google's version
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/dev/null

/dev/null

taking a wrong turn
FAA has already issued Amazon a permit to fly drones for research. Things happen at a different pace when you can afford to spend millions of dollars on lobbyists. Amazon has doubled it's spending on lobbyists since 2013.
 
oobus

oobus

Dirt Monger
A lot of "businesses" in this arena are making big promises: a very small percentage can actually deliver what they promise and of these, only a few can legally fly.....

Looks like there are less than 2,000 licensed operators in the U.S., only 60 within Sac/Bay Area.
 
carries an axe

carries an axe

meat bone meat meat meat
/dev/null said:
FAA has already issued Amazon a permit to fly drones for research. Things happen at a different pace when you can afford to spend millions of dollars on lobbyists. Amazon has doubled it's spending on lobbyists since 2013.
Click to expand...

I have not looked up their 333 permit to see what the conditions are but I do not believe for one minute that they would be allowed to operate in urban areas until sense and avoid is proven to be capable
 
/dev/null

/dev/null

taking a wrong turn
carries an axe said:
I have not looked up their 333 permit to see what the conditions are but I do not believe for one minute that they would be allowed to operate in urban areas until sense and avoid is proven to be capable
Click to expand...

From the FAA
March 19–The Federal Aviation Administration today issued an experimental airworthiness certificate to an Amazon Logistics, Inc. unmanned aircraft (UAS) design that the company will use for research and development and crew training. The FAA typically issues experimental certificates to manufacturers and technology developers to operate a UAS that does not have a type certificate.
Under the provisions of the certificate, all flight operations must be conducted at 400 feet or below during daylight hours in visual meteorological conditions. The UAS must always remain within visual line-of-sight of the pilot and observer. The pilot actually flying the aircraft must have at least a private pilot’s certificate and current medical certification.
The certificate also requires Amazon to provide monthly data to the FAA. The company must report the number of flights conducted, pilot duty time per flight, unusual hardware or software malfunctions, any deviations from air traffic controllers’ instructions, and any unintended loss of communication links. The FAA includes these reporting requirements in all UAS experimental airworthiness certificates.
Click to expand...
 
NorCalAthlete

NorCalAthlete

O_o
Blankpage said:
Depends on the city. Wouldn't be very fast in Seattle traffic which is as ugly as anywhere and lane splitting isn't allowed.
Click to expand...

But Seattle also has lots of tall buildings and tight spaces that would make deliveries for the UAV a pain in the ass, and you can still park a motorcycle damn near anywhere for the time it takes to deliver a package or three.
 
D

DReg350

Well-known member
It's interesting and I don't doubt that it'll be a thing at some point. But, I agree with Adam that batteries seem to be a limiting factor. The video mentioned a 15 mile delivery radius from point of origin. That's not very far at all. I can't see how this will pencil out. In order to be able to provide broad coverage for the Bay Area, Amazon would need allot of warehouses. Real estate is expensive. Plus, they can't carry much of a load, so I guess I'll have to keep putting up with late Blue Apron deliveries thanks to On-Trac. Damn you, On-Trac! :laughing
 
}Dragon{

}Dragon{

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ ︵ ╯(°□° ╯)
NorCalAthlete said:
But Seattle also has lots of tall buildings and tight spaces that would make deliveries for the UAV a pain in the ass, and you can still park a motorcycle damn near anywhere for the time it takes to deliver a package or three.
Click to expand...

Yeah- how would they deliver to a hi-rise or apartment complex? "Your package is on the roof."
 
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