Slashdot Mirror
Amazon's Delivery Drones Will Be Able To Track Your Location
stowie writes: According to the filing with the USPTO, the e-commerce giant's delivery drones will be able to communicate with each other, find the best flight path available, and update the delivery location as a customer changes location. Package delivery locations will be updated as customers move around, so a package can come to you at work or home, depending on where you are when your shipment is ready — including pulling location data from a smartphone. There will also be relay locations, allowing drones to drop off packages for further transport, or to recharge or swap batteries. Amazon even supplies a mockup of what its delivery drone could look like, including eight propellers, two removable power modules and much more.
I know 90% of the Slashdot audience is going to talk about shooting down Amazon's drones and shit like that, but seriously - isn't there anyone besides me that can't wait for this? I think it's going to be great, and the "sky is falling" predictions about all the downsides to this seem like nonsense to me, for the most part. Am I alone in this?
I've learned that they're worthless, so I don't read AC comments anymore.
How will Amazon handle the theft problem? Why just steal a package of unknown value when you can stuff the drone into a steel box and get a pile of expensive parts along with whatever bonus you find in the package being delivered.
Will Amazon be forced to redline neighborhoods that have a high attrition rate?
I do not deploy Linux. Ever.
I came to say the same thing. How awesome would it be to be at the beach, realize you forgot a towel, and have one drop in within a half hour...
It's totally like all those care package drops in FPS games are coming to reality.
After all, it would only be tracking your location with your permission, after you had ordered something... there's a clear benefit to giving up some temporary privacy for a little temporary convenience.
The only thing is, I don't see how this service works if it's very windy, or there's much weather... and what if you can't get outside during the delivery window. Would it just leave the box in a parking lot? Or cart if back to the warehouse? So many questions of implementation I have trouble seeing it come to pass.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
In the last diagram the drone (object 200) is shown directly over what appears to be a smartphone (objects 600 and 602).
Looks like in addition to tracking your location for the "Bring it to me" function, they plan to use your smartphone as the "landing beacon" for the final part of approach and landing. Didn't see that mentioned in either article. Looks very interesting.
Makes me want to buy someone a ton of bricks. Then the drone can drop it on them, no matter where they are.
far easier! "I didn't order a 'Grenade with pre-pulled pin' from Amazon!"
The drones will also be able to track the recipient even while walking or running down the street and launch the package with a trajectory aimed to the recipients head. Upon successful impact the drone will produce a *Boom! Headshot!!* sound effect. Amazon officials refused to comment on the necessity of this delivery mode.
"What if you're in a car"
If it can't deliver something through my sunroof while I'm on the highway, don't even bother.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I'm not at work right now, but since the poster didn't say what he was linking to and can't edit it now to warn people, I just thought I would put this here.
It would be if he could access a cell tower, which he couldn't down there.
Just another day in Paradise