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USPS Shortlists 'HorseFly' Octocopter Drone Delivery Service

Posted by timothy on from the why-they-want-9-digit-zip dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The likes of GM and Nissan are keeping unusual company in the bidding war to build and deliver the next generation of delivery vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service. Workhorse Group Inc. have made it to the 16-company shortlist with their octocopter drone delivery system, developed by the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science. The self-guiding UAV 'HorseFly' has multiple hardware and software redundancy systems and launches from its special host van 'WorkHorse' to get the parcel the final hurdle to the door. The drone can recharge itself wirelessly in two minutes at base, and calculates its own routes from the van to the destination door.

3 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. but will by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But will it be able to deliver mail to the White house?

  2. Re:So about 8' from my front door? by funwithBSD · · Score: 5, Funny

    That is why it is equipped with a small catapult.

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
  3. Re:So about 8' from my front door? by boristdog · · Score: 3, Funny

    You are probably not the target market for this since you live in a densely populated area.

    I live in an area where the spacing between houses averages over a quarter-mile in any direction. I would love for a drone to deliver my packages instead of the lazy delivery driver just saying "address doesn't exist" or "cannot find address" because they don't want to drive down my road.

    It might annoy my donkey, though, but I'll risk coming home to an annoyed donkey in exchange for actually getting my packages.