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Amazon's Delivery-by-Drone Looks Freaking Amazing. Will It Happen?

By Rain Noe - December 2, 2013

in Tech

Last night on the American news program 60 Minutes, Amazon skipper Jeff Bezos unveiled the company's plans to have packages delivered not by strapping UPS men, but by autonomous drones that it is impossible for your girlfriend to develop a crush on. It turns out that 86% of Amazon packages are under five pounds, a very do-able payload capacity for our little octo-rotor friends. With well-placed distribution centers, Amazon reckons that "Prime Air Delivery," as they're calling it, will get package delivery times down to just 30 minutes for those living in the right zones.

Here's what it would look like in action, using footage purportedly from an actual test flight:

Looks amazing—but will it really happen? The company concedes that "Putting Prime Air into commercial use will take some number of years as we advance technology and wait for the necessary FAA rules and regulations." Bezos forecasts a 2018 rollout. But not all are so optimistic: The UK's The Guardian is skeptical, going so far as to call the plan "hot air and baloney" cunningly timed to boost Cyber Monday shopping excitement, and notes that America's famous love of litigation will provide the largest barrier to uptake:

[Consider] the legal minefield using drones in this way entails... The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates this area, intends to make commercial drones legally viable and workable by 2015, but this deadline is all-but impossible: managing the skies with this much low-level traffic is a problem people are nowhere near solving. Opening up crowded urban areas full of terror targets to large numbers of flying platforms is always going to be packed with conflicting interests and difficulties. And all this has come before the first lawsuit caused after someone is injured by a faulty drone [when next door's kid decides to shoot the drone with his BB rifle] crashing down to earth.

As a frequent Amazon customer, I've got my fingers crossed that they'll make Prime Air Delivery happen—even as I realize I'll probably be part of the last group served, as I live in NYC. Delivering to suburban lawns is one thing, but navigating canyons of multistory towers and locating the correct window ledge or fire escape is quite another.

If Amazon does manage to pull it off, here's one of the first packages they ought to deliver, to the offices of The Guardian:

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Mitch

10 years ago

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I love when people comment about theft. Is crime such a new thing to us? lol
People dont steal because its a crime.
They will make it a serious offense. Probably theft over 5k.

Do you think people laughed at Henry Ford because cars could just get stolen when left in a driveway, or on the street?

These will be equipped with GPS, and cameras. Within 3 seconds of distress from one of these drones, cops will be called.
I see no issues with theft. who is stupid enough to steal a GPS tracking drone from a company that can crush you like a bug
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Andrew

10 years ago

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All I can think of is that this is another step towards an outcome like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kngspqvHa0

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Tom Mc

10 years ago

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"@scott : Yes but in most countries this wouldn't be an issue as guns are not allowed."

Free men own weapons. Keep your grabby-grabbies to yourself.
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51

10 years ago

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Perhaps Bezos is thinking 10 years ahead when Amazon replaces USPS non-urban delivery services altogether. I'm sure he'll secure whatever Government/FAA approvals by then.

Mmmm..... I wonder what a mailbox would look like if fully integrated with this delivery method for mail drop and pick up.
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dan

10 years ago

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Absolutely brilliant. This makes me excited to be living in "the future" again-- even sans jetpack. If they do charge an astronomical price it'll be worth every damn penny. Sometimes failure and success pivot on having the ONE THING you need RIGHT NOW and don't have. So, you need one more 1/4-20 ball joint rod end (you didn't get due to a keystroke error whilst ordering) to make your prototype functional for the demo in two hours and the closest hardware supplier is 45 minutes away during peak traffic? PROBLEM SOLVED. Instant gratification aside, there is absolutely a valid need and a market for this. But, a lumbering 3 ton truck to deliver a little box probably DOES make more sense than a small, light craft that takes a direct path to its destination. Driving/walking to pick up carry-out? How about piping-hot Thai a-la drone? The possibilities are seemingly endless... and delicious.
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MS

10 years ago

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@scott : Yes but in most countries this wouldn't be an issue as guns are not allowed.
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scott

10 years ago

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I think my favorite comment someone posted about this so far was "Skeet Shooting, now with prizes!"

The things can't have defensive turrets or anything, so how will theft prevention work when someone shoots these down in a field and runs before the cops show up?
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Tom Mc

10 years ago

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It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Or one of these gets sucked into the engine of another aircraft.

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C

10 years ago

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Up here in Canada.. retailers gouge customers hard.
If the delivery fee is the right price and you are saving enough money on Amazon then it will work quite well.

Impulse shopping is now available online. There are tons of people who will pay for shipping.
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Jeff

10 years ago

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Who would be desperate enough to pay the no-doubt astronomical fees for this service?
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Paul Pickard

10 years ago

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What a colossal waste of resources.
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slippyfish

10 years ago

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Numerous technical and social challenges, but remember Bezos tends to think extremely long-term.
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