Amazon Plans For Delivery Drones To Rest On Tall Structures
A patent filing for docking stations gives a clue on how Amazon expects its planned fleet of flying delivery drones to get around. The company wants to position recharging stations on top of tall structures like steeples and light poles to allow the drones to recharge or hide out during storms.
According to the filing, “The docking stations may incorporate a number of features to enable UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to fly longer routes, to fly routes more accurately, and to provide shelter during adverse conditions.”
Drones might also be able to hand off packages at the docking stations. Whether or not this idea will be able to work with current FAA regulations is still…well… up in the air.
Government Demands More Amazon Customer Data
The government isn’t only interested in Amazon’s drone fleet plans. They also want to know a lot more lately about Amazon customers. The company says government demands for their customer data has more than doubled with more than 1,800 warrants issued for the data so far in 2016.
Apple Profits Fall 27%
Apple profits took more than a 25% dip in the past quarter. Marking the first time they’ve had two consecutive quarterly drops in sales of iPhones since they hit the market 9 years ago.
The company still managed to sell more than $40 million dollars worth of smartphones. People seem to just be holding on to their old smartphones longer and Apple faces stiff competition from lower-priced models.
~ Cynthia
Of course, as soon as the wrinkles are smoothed out drones will be as commonplace as smartphones are now
I think it’s going to take a lot on Amazons part to convince the FAA to allow this to ever happen. I don’t see the FAA in a big hurry to allow this to happen since they already told Amazon more data was needed to begin with
when it came to using the drones period
There will, of course, be limitations of where and when they can fly. When they are near controlled air space, they will more than likely have an on board pinger to alert air traffic control of their location and they will not be allowed in glide paths or take off zones. They will be more of a threat to rotor wing then to fixed wing aircraft but will more than likely be assigned an air space much lower than normal aircraft fly. Once in awhile there will be collisions and we will have a new category under which we will be able to return merchandise. Namely, shredded after being run through by a helicopter. Amazon will be the least of our worries. You’ll know it’s going to be a bad day when you observe a government drone parked over your house.
Like any new technology, there are and will be problems to work thru but it will eventually happen. Once far-sighted, intelligent people begin dreaming, it’s only a matter of time. Problems thrown at them just seem to invigorate.
Just one more way to cut labor It will eliminate ups,fedx & upos jobs. Is this in the best interest of our country?
This I believe will take alot of time to come up with all of this. But, I do not like giving all my info out if I give it out of one place that I like how they do business with but if this will be just one of the ways available for shipping merchandise to us if we have the option to have our merchandise delivered maybe a couple of different options mail delivery and drones when that comes. I would personally like to get feedback from Amazon customers how they liked it first for me to even choose it. Some people cannot get down steps like myself so delivery to my door for orders are the way I prefer to go for my own safety! They need to consider handicapped people and where shipping by mail would be a better option we can chose those different options.
How much is enough for Amazon? How many American jobs will be lost when their Chinese made delivery drones displace our workers [the USPS employees, the FedEx and UPS employees]? All so that Jeff Bezos and stockholders can profit by a mere few cents more per share? Have we gotten so self-centered and impatient that our demands for instant gratification outweigh so many other things? Why can’t our society wait for a few days for the delivery of their purchases?
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT SOON
I am NOT in favor of drones for delivery. Lost, damage, Information exposed, safety, Jobs, etc. will all be at risk.
Do not like the idea at all!
As this gets going the intrusion of the government spying on its Citizens from poles near homes and then the next thing the drones will be affixed with listening devices. I for one do not use Amazon nor do I want or expect Amazon to intrude on the Air Rights over my property. I will never give it, them and especially the government those rights. Under Hillery, Obama or any part of this democrative bunch of liars who say one thing and do another
it’s a great idea. The problems though, if the drone fails, wind sheer, other drones, birds, rain, (idiots shooting at them) running into a plane and loosing control, or out of control this could crash on a roadway, freeway, house, building causing fire, all I all I’m for them, there could be hundreds out there and could cause all kinds of problems. In rural areas would be great or hard to reach places.
How does one contact Amazon to have our condo community considered for providing docking stations?
This is all just in the development stage. If it is ever actually implemented, Amazon will make that information public.