Google X Drone

[benno]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28964260

[G60jet]

I wonder what the future will hold for these delivery drones.

I wonder how long it will be before peope figure ou they can order something and it comes by drone and they can "down it" and have it for their own or parts.

[guest2350]

I wonder how long it will be before peope figure ou they can order something and it comes by drone and they can "down it" and have it for their own or parts.

 
Reminds me of the days when the local youths used to order a dominoes pizza, then hijack the delivery guys scooter... 

[G60jet]

 
Reminds me of the days when the local youths used to order a dominoes pizza, then hijack the delivery guys scooter... 

yeah,  seen that happen at uni in salford many years ago.   

the other scam was students would order under false names and wait for the guy to turn up and realise no one with that name was at the Halls and you could then buy them on the cheap.

[Ground Engineer]

I wonder if this Google X is more efficient than the FireFly 6, which is also VTOL but its not a tail sitter.

[Hands0n]

Just saw the same story on Sky: http://news.sky.com/story/1326503/google-launches-delivery-drones-in-video

It seems that there are a lot of hurdles to overcome, the legal and safety ones are probably the easiest.  More difficult will be the practical issues, some mentioned above.  Socially these will have a difficult path to acceptance. Conspiracy theorists will believe the drones double up for surveillance [of what??].  Contention for air space will become a reality.  Will this hobby be all but driven out of the skies by commercial air traffic?  And what of the inevitable social cost - loss of jobs by local businesses being abandoned in favour of these large conglomerates operating out of warehouses and silos remote from towns and cities.

As "just in time" purchase and delivery become the norm, what happens to existing infrastructure such as the local hypermarket, shopping malls and the like. Even these may buckle under the strain of competing against this kind of dystopian future.

[Friskle]

If you want my honest opinion, its people who have gone commercial, those that are considering it, and these ideas, that will most definately ruin it completely for the general hobbyist.

[flybywire]

I can see it happening in certain forward thinking countries, but not here.

[ashutchy]

If you want my honest opinion, its people who have gone commercial, those that are considering it, and these ideas, that will most definately ruin it completely for the general hobbyist.

Why do you say that Friskle? I';m not looking to start an argument but I';m very interested to hear the thinking behind your statement.