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[DarkPenguin]

Who else is going to try to shoot them down?

Has Bezos finally moved into a hollowed out volcano?

http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/amazon-uses-60-minutes-to-unveil-automated-delivery-drones-1200907633/

[KingSparta]

I wonder how they will determine where to set the package.

the only thing I can think of would be to:

1. some how look up an address in Google map (that is often wrong) find out where the door step is.

or

1. mail the customer a drone

2. place the drone where you want the package delivered

3. press the green button this stores the GPS location, and the drone returns the package to Amazon.

now all future deliveries would be sent to that location.

[mwillems]

I wonder how they will determine where to set the package.

the only thing I can think of would be to:

1. some how look up an address in Google map (that is often wrong) find out where the door step is.

or

1. mail the customer a drone

2. place the drone where you want the package delivered

3. press the green button this stores the GPS location, and the drone returns the package to Amazon.

now all future deliveries would be sent to that location.

If I had to guess, they'll probably make a mobile app that captures a GPS trace from your phone.  Stand on your front porch, press a button on your phone, they now know where your porch is. 

I'm having a harder time figuring out how it will get the package under shelter.  Those drones are a little too big/ungainly to actually fly into a porch (or at least too big to get into my porch).  So is it going to somehow throw or shoot the package laterally onto your porch?  I'm willing to bet there will be a lot of accidental roof or garden delivered packages.

[jgreen]

What I heard is that they currently have a 10-mile range, and would be used for dropping packages in metro areas, based on address.  No fun!!

I'd like to see them fanning out across the countryside dropping packages on people in remote areas based on gps coordinates.  Groceries, even.

[Matt]

I wonder how the energy usage per package of a small drone with one package compares to a gas truck with lots of packages?

[jgreen]

Bezos says it's much more efficient, and I buy that argument, although it's not the point.  I want to be camped out in the wilderness with a shotgun, waiting for an Amazon drone to fly overhead speeding vital medicine to some poor orphan girl.

And people say technology has lost its fun factor!

[KingSparta]

I guess someone could get a hold of one of these high tech drones, and replace the package with a brown paper bag full of, well you know.

I do think it is interesting concept.

[KingSparta]

apparently UPS Also announced They Will also Have Drones Delivering Packages.

Seen it on NBC nightly news

[JimH]

I think people will be printing their own products before drones start delivering anything.

[DarkPenguin]

That's right!  I need to print me up a gun.

[jgreen]

Possibly related, but Walmart is trying to figure out how to get CUSTOMERS to deliver packages from the store to the doorstep, compensated with a store credit.  Idea is you would register at your local Wallie, and when a parcel came into the store with a destination near your home, you'd get a spiff for dropping your neighbor's package on your way home.

Okay, neighbor walking up your drive, or drone hovering over your lawn.  Choose carefully, you're down to your last shell!