Before reading this you should read Self Drive Vehicles.
Internet Mark 3: you point your phone at a price tag ... and it arrives by drone minutes later at an agreed delivery point specified by what 3 words. Every ten foot square in the world is uniquely specified by three English words - so your desk might be at "Plastic Clock Trousers" - my desk is at "Irritating Universal Expert".
The drone enters into a dialogue with your phone and then releases the item into your hands by lowering it on a length of cable with an electric release mechanism. When it is done the drone flies off and sits on top of a lamp post recharging until its next job - like a buzzard or a Mexican bandit in a Clint Eastwood film.
But how do you stop them delivering bombs or drugs? Or being controlled by an enemy bent on your destruction (see Passenger Drones above). It is often social considerations that derail progress. Politicians may decide (quite reasonably) that the risk exceeds the reward.
The local shop selling convenience food may well be hit by Internet Mark 3 (drones - assuming they are legal). The Co-op half a mile from me is always busy. They sell awesome bread and have an ATM, postbox, parking and litter bins. Very handy. But what if a drone could bring me awesome bread in 5 minutes and deliver parcels for me? It just arrives and takes my parcel to a central depot for delivery onwards or just flies direct if it is local.
A drone costing £1,000 and written off over a year can deliver and collect stuff for about 20p per hour - say £1 allowing for other costs. A fraction of the cost of a postman and his van - which must cost at least £25 per hour.
Bob Cory
Modified on 25/08/2023 at 16:43:45 by ℗ Bob Cory