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Medicine Delivered By Flying Drones

Posted by Soulskill on from the because-walking-down-the-block-is-too-much-effort dept.

A company has launched a service in San Francisco to deliver medicine and other drug store items via airborne drone. The company, QuiQui, chose the Mission district of San Francisco for its lack of tall buildings and generally flat landscape, which makes it much easier for the flying drones to get around. They're working with pharmacies to deliver medicine because the packages are typically very small and easy for the drones to carry. QuiQui has been working on the concept for two years even though they knew it was likely to be illegal. They were surprised when the FAA lost its lawsuit earlier this month to block commercial drone use, but they're taking the opportunity to push forward. They haven't yet resolved what to do about delivering regulated substances.

8 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. What could possibly go wrong? by Todd+Palin · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What could possibly go wrong?

  2. The new "X on the internet". by ericloewe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It seems that these days, adding "with drones." to any old headline makes it newsworthy.

    1. Re:The new "X on the internet". by ultranova · · Score: 3, Funny

      It seems that these days, adding "with drones." to any old headline makes it newsworthy.

      Yeah. Why would a tech site has any interest in autonomous(?) robotic couriers flying around the city? Tell me something about the sci-fi future we were supposed to have already!

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  3. Junkie defense systems? by atari2600a · · Score: 2

    I walk down Mission St. at least 5 days a month to head to Noisebridge, & any walk down that part of Mission is a walk past countless drug addicts & day drinkers, acting all thug. If these drones fly low enough, any junkie with an unregulated airsoft gun's gonna be shooting them down hoping to find oxycodene or whatever the fuck.

    1. Re:Junkie defense systems? by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I know you just thought you were being clever, but you were wrong. An airsoft gun isn't going to take down a drone. You're going to need at least a good airgun for that. Not even a .22; a .177 pellet packs plenty of punch, especially if it is pointy. And it has the added advantage of being trivial when it comes down, so long as you don't fire it at a shallow angle.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  4. bro, just imagine... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    if someone used bitcoins to buy a 3d-printer and had it delivered by drones!

  5. Re:The obvious applications by mikael · · Score: 2

    Weed-to-go online booking form.

    Please select the amount of item you want delivered,
    [_] 50 grammes [_] 100 grammes [_] 250 grammes [_] 500 grammes [_] 1 kilogram [_] 2 kilograms [_] 5 kilograms [_] other
    If other, please enter the amount here [____] (maximum 25 kilograms)

    Please enter how soon you want the delivery:
    [_] Whenever (next three days) [_] Before I get the munchies (next day) [_] Just give me the dope, man! (today)

    After the purchase has been approved, please print out the barcode target and place it on a horizontal surface somewhere outdoors and not obscured by any
    trees. Our targeting satellites will detect the target and direct the delivery drone to the location.

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  6. Not a bad idea ... by PPH · · Score: 2

    ... but that last moment power dive toward my ass with the hypodermic extended is a bit disconcerting.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.