I use lidar. It's getting better and cheaper fast.
I'm pretty excited about:
Quanergy Systems to Debut Solid State LiDAR in 2016 | Business Wire
I'm pretty excited about:
Quanergy Systems to Debut Solid State LiDAR in 2016 | Business Wire
Funny you should mention that, I'm not sure if this is new but yesterday on Amazon I got the option to deliver to an Amazon lockbox for the first time.My commercial drone experience is primarily with multispectral imaging, surveying, etc. Basically, data collection.
I have looked into crop spraying drones (like the RMAX or the recently announced DJI), but it just doesn't make sense right now. Payloads are hard. I can map 400 acres on one battery in 55 minutes with perfect weather/no wind. Add a 2nd camera, and that goes down to about 280 acres and 40 minutes. Add 8mph winds, and I'm lucky to get 35 minutes. There are just so many variables before you even get to the point of worrying about safety and crazies on the ground, that I don't see the appeal. I can deliver a beer to my co-workers house 1.5 miles away, which is hilarious, but it sure as shit isn't practical.
What does make sense (to me) is having an enourmous warehouse outside of a city, with corner drop shops (think Starbucks level of locations) where you can order something online and pick it up from your nearest drop shop 45 minutes later. I can't speak on the financial logic of that approach, but it makes a lot more sense to me than trying to develop a drone delivery system for home delivery.
Dear god don't let them know about these things called birds!I'm actually very surprised these are not more regulated already. There have been several incidents of drones getting way way too close for comfort to commercial aircraft. That seems like a complete disaster waiting to happen.
Airliners come within 100 feet of drone over New York - CNN.com
4 Commercial Planes Report Drone Encounters at Newark Airport: FAA | NBC New York
Near-collisions between drones, airliners surge, new FAA reports show - The Washington Post
Many of the newer hobby drones won't allow them to be flown within 5nm of an airport. I know yuneec does this, and I THINK 3Dr does now as well. Can be bypassed by someone that has a little knowledge, but those typically aren't the people causing problems.The guy i know with a legit one will refuse to fly near the airport via gps\computer magic
A drone would likely do more damage to a plane than a bird depending on the drone of course. A typical small bird willusually cause a plane to have to divert back to the airport. A large birdcan bring down a friggin fighter jet. But a drone can also be controlled by idiots.Dear god don't let them know about these things called birds!
there are a shit ton of closed military bases that might be good drone depot's ya know the ones taxpayers spent billions on constructing so amazon can rent them out for 3 bucks a yearit comes to the same thing. millions of drones and or millions of batteries sitting on chargers is still a colossal hit to resources. then you have to factor in where you stick your drone bases. then factor in that these drones can only get so close to your doorstep without risking damage to itself customer property or the customer themselves. more insurance costs.
The future is now...i cant wait til a quadcopter/drone starts reaching payloads of upward of 150-200 pounds, hilarity will ensue when humans begin flying their walmart toys into buildings with them on board.
This has always been my question, there was the one dude who was arrested in DC flying around RC airplanes and apparently making bombs years ago.And how long once the payload limit increases that allah ackbar starts strapping bombs to attack buildings/planes? Gonna have to install anti drone tech everywhere mad max style.