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Amazon planning to have delivery by drone
On CBS's 60 Minutes, Jeff Bezos revealed that Amazon.com is hoping to have 30 minute delivery by drone available in four to five years. (www.zdnet.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
The quest for immediate gratification will be our undoing.
The underlying factor being greed. We are consumers, not survivors. We lack the knowledge, determination, resolve, and courage of our grandfathers. Our undoing is by our own hand, while refusing any part of this disaster. We blame politicians and the rich, but it's our fault for letting it happen.
Amazon did a great job at being the most talked Company this Cyber Monday..
When can I get Drone Pizza? But how's it going to ring the doorbell?
When can I get Drone Pizza? But how's it going to ring the doorbell?
Why doesn't Amazon work to establish a bird farm between runways at every major airport? That makes as much sense as having self-guided aerial vehicles bombing our front porches.
America has 30 minute delivery now. It's called Domino's. It has the advantage of placing the item in the hands of the buyer, not dropping it in a place only accessible from the air.
In Tokyo or Hong Kong I can get anything delivered quickly. In Los Angeles McMaster-Carr has same day delivery of industrial supplies. Why do quadcopters need to interfere with aviation?
Bezos' vision is to deliver only 5 pounds using an electric powered device while quickly touting how green this delivery system is compared to other delivery vehicles. This is disingenuous malarkey sauce. The batteries and motors involve manufacturing processing that far out pollutes the fossil fuel delivery vehicles. The energy needed is in excess of that needed by conventional vehicles. The use of electric power simply moves the tailpipe from the vehicle to the power plant.
A person on a bicycle could make a delivery of up to 50 lbs. in New York faster than a quadcopter with no "carbon footprint." (I admit a hot pepper hero sandwich consumed by the bike rider could contribute undesirable atmospheric methane.)
America has 30 minute delivery now. It's called Domino's. It has the advantage of placing the item in the hands of the buyer, not dropping it in a place only accessible from the air.
In Tokyo or Hong Kong I can get anything delivered quickly. In Los Angeles McMaster-Carr has same day delivery of industrial supplies. Why do quadcopters need to interfere with aviation?
Bezos' vision is to deliver only 5 pounds using an electric powered device while quickly touting how green this delivery system is compared to other delivery vehicles. This is disingenuous malarkey sauce. The batteries and motors involve manufacturing processing that far out pollutes the fossil fuel delivery vehicles. The energy needed is in excess of that needed by conventional vehicles. The use of electric power simply moves the tailpipe from the vehicle to the power plant.
A person on a bicycle could make a delivery of up to 50 lbs. in New York faster than a quadcopter with no "carbon footprint." (I admit a hot pepper hero sandwich consumed by the bike rider could contribute undesirable atmospheric methane.)
Keep in mind that moving the emissions from the tailpipe to the power plant isn't an equal thing. Small vehicle engines are very inefficient with thermal efficiencies in the 20-30% range, while power plants typically are using their fuel at a thermal efficiency of 40-50% and electric motors around 90+% efficient in converting electricity into thrust. Thus emissions per unit of energy used are reduced via electrification.
Additionally, the batteries and simple motors used to make quad-copter style drones are not more polluting than the manufacturing methods used to produce a street-legal delivery vehicle. That's simply nonsense, and many studies on life-cycle emissions associated with manufacture of various transportation devices would back that up.
Aside from those two oversights, I do agree with the general gist of your statement that it isn't needed and presents significant concerns for aviation. However, you mustn't exaggerate or oversimplify, as it hurts your stance in the long run.
Additionally, the batteries and simple motors used to make quad-copter style drones are not more polluting than the manufacturing methods used to produce a street-legal delivery vehicle. That's simply nonsense, and many studies on life-cycle emissions associated with manufacture of various transportation devices would back that up.
Aside from those two oversights, I do agree with the general gist of your statement that it isn't needed and presents significant concerns for aviation. However, you mustn't exaggerate or oversimplify, as it hurts your stance in the long run.
Nice comment Ric! :)
Amazon's page on the topic: http://www.amazon.com/b?ref_=tsm_1_fb_s_amzn_mx3eqp&node=8037720011