drone : Java Glossary

How It Might Work

1. You register a GPS (Global Positioning System) location for the rendezvous in the middle of your lawn or your apartment’s lawn. It some delivery locations it would have to be on a roof.
2. When the parcel is ready for delivery, you get an automated phone call. By pressing 1, you can accept the parcel in the next 10 minutes or press 2 to request a delay.
3. You go outside to the landing zone and make sure it is clear for landing. If you can’t do that, you call in an abort.
4. The drone lands and powers off. You punch in a PIN (Personal Identification Number) number on the drone, or on your cell, to get it to release the parcel.
5. The drone takes off returning to home base for another parcel after it has determined there are no people within 3 metres (9.84 ft) .

Advantages

• There would be no labour for a driver.
• The fuel for the drone would be insignificant compared with the fuel for a delivery truck.
• The emissions would be low.
• The route could be direct.
• It would be easy to scale without tying up large amounts of real estate. The office could be set up on an unused rooftop.

Disadvantages

• Many people are not home to receive parcels in winter except in the dark.
• Drones would probably be fairly noisy, unless they were electric.
• Sooner or later a drone would smash into a child and there would be great hue and cry out of proportion to the danger.

Problems

• A drone to carry more than 500 grams (1.10 lbs) has to be pretty big. Ideally you would like the drones to handle any packages lighter than furniture or electrical appliances, in particular bags of groceries.
• Children and dogs would likely be excited by drones landing and would attack.
• Wind, rain, snow, overhanging trees, power lines make for dangerous flying conditions.