USPS Shortlists 'HorseFly' Octocopter Drone Delivery Service

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.

Comments

but will

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:but will

[YrWrstNtmr]

'Mail' does not get delivered directly to the White House.
It first goes to an off-site location to be checked.

So about 8' from my front door?

[Quarters]

That thing is freaking huge. Each copter arm has to be at least 4' - 5' long. Factor in the roof overhang over my front door, and the landscaping, and the closest this thing could get a package to my doorstep would be about 8' away, but that puts it right into another landscaped area. So, my packages will either be somewhere in my front yard or on my driveway. All of this just so a postal worker doesn't have to get up out of a seat and walk the package all the way to my door?

PROGRESS!

Re:So about 8' from my front door?

[funwithBSD]

That is why it is equipped with a small catapult.