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Switzerland Begins Trials of Expensive Postal Drones

An anonymous reader writes: Swiss Post has beat Amazon, Alibaba and other researchers into drone-based delivery by launching practical drops using a Matternet four-rotored drone this month. However the company says that five years of testing and negotiation with regulators lie ahead before it will be able to offer a commercial drone-based delivery service. Like Google's Project Wing, the Matternet drone in question is mooted as a potential lifeline in post-disaster situations, but from a business point of view the release notes its potential for 'express delivery of goods' — a further indicator that the future of postal drone delivery may be an exclusive and expensive one.

3 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. I can see it now... by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Somewhere in the Swiss Alps, a poor delivery drone lies buried in an avalanche, only to be rescued by a Saint Bernard trained how to change drone batteries.

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    1. Re:I can see it now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually they'll just use a new drone that is powered by brandy, thus utilizing existing St. Bernard technology.

  2. Misread that as "explosive postal drones" by porges · · Score: 4, Funny

    Was disappointed.