Package delivery is one of the highest profile uses for drones, but I don't think it's a lasting one. Drones are unlikely to become cheap and efficient enough t

Package delivery is one of the highest profile uses for drones, but I don't think it's a lasting one. Drones are unlikely to become cheap and efficient enough to eclipse current delivery techniques on a mass scale. Especially because traditional techniques will become much more effective as autonomous cars become feasible. However, lots of the technology being developed (robust autonomous flight, improved endurance & range, lower costs) will speed up developments for other applications that make better use of their strengths. Even more importantly, companies like Google are finally forcing the FAA to craft realistic regulations that don't completely cripple commercial applications. The FAA's lethargic pace has already severely hampered domestic development to the degree that Google had to do most of their development in Australia.