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I strongly contend that there very likely has not been a decline in the give-a-damn factor. My experience is that it really hasn't ever been too high. Just look

I strongly contend that there very likely has not been a decline in the give-a-damn factor. My experience is that it really hasn't ever been too high. Just look at cartoons 50 years ago, and packages getting wrecked en route is a staple joke; the jokes were rarely obscure, but often topical. There is always a few great operators, but mostly you just fix you processes so people default to failure less. Hence hacks like the TV stamp. But the answer is (as always) more automation. Mind, this can lead to really neat edge cases where you accidentally build a package smashing factory. But in general repeatability (machine) beats out diligence (people) every time. You just have to, you know, pay for it. The cost benefit analysis probably strongly favors the marked box in this case.

Noos 10y ago
Good luck trying to automate a system where the vehicle has to unload a package of anywhere from envelope size to a 90" TV. It has to bring this across a driveway of varying shape or size, or even no drive way at all, bringing it inside an apartment complex or condo. It has to realize the correct address or room, collect a signature, or realize that no human being is present to sign for it. Then it returns the item to the truck. The sheer amount of variables that this would require, without error, would be ridiculous. UPS and other places tried to make the customer do it by storage lockers, and those failed. There's nowhere near any elegant form of solution to improve on that.
- kbenson 10y ago
  I think it likely that if we see a significant amount of automation in delivery, the last mile will eventually see it too. Right now, my neighborhood has grouped mailboxes[1], and anything more than a semi-flat package will not fix. Small boxes that don't fit are delivered to the shared larger compartment, which is locked, and the key is then left in your mailbox. When you use the key, it does not come out of the shared compartment, so in retrieving your delivery the key is automatically returned. I don't see why this system can't be scaled up somewhat. Automated delivery to a shared compartment which can be designed to accommodate such a scenario would be significantly easier. Want direct to home delivery by a person? I'm sure the delivery companies can accommodate you with a special type of delivery[2]. Theft might be a problem, but since these are generally in neighborhoods next to houses, and setting up a camera would be simple (and undoubtedly pay for itself in some circumstances when people contend they did not get a package), I think it wouldn't be too much of a problem. 1: https://www.mailboxworks.com/images/af-12doorcbu-lrg.jpg https://www.mailboxworks.com/images/af-12doorcbu-lrg.jpg 2: In truth, it would probably start with the automated to shared compartment delivery being a new option that's slightly cheaper. Eventually it would probably become the norm since it's cheaper.
  - nucleardog 10y ago
    Are there really enough individuals (not businesses) that want to-the-door delivery that it's even worthwhile? My shipping experience is a constant fight to get them to hold the package for pickup because I'm not going to be home during their delivery hours (~9-5 Mon-Fri) and I don't want to wait four or five business days for them to make several delivery attempts before I go pick it up.
    - jschwartzi 10y ago
      I'm waiting for Amazon to finish their locker network so they start to sell un-utilized capacity for this purpose. This strategy is why we have AWS.
  - Symbiote 10y ago
    Apart from the automated delivery, services like this exist. I used one in Denmark last week. I received an SMS saying delivery would be the next day, but I could reply to request delivery to the drop off point in a nearby supermarket instead of at my home. I did this. I received another SMS with a collection code. A keypad on the set of lockers opened the lock on one of them, and I collected the package at a perfectly convenient time. http://www.swipbox.dk/ http://www.swipbox.dk/
- HCIdivision17 10y ago
  Oh you're right, of course. But part of the ridiculousness of industrial automation is that at some point all those variables will be catalogued and dealt with. A bit poorly I'd bet, but we'll certainly see it happen. It'll just take another few decades...
- MertsA 10y ago
  For the last 100 feet, yeah sure, you'll need someone to handle the package. But my box of PCI express network cards didn't get a boot print on it in the last 100 feet. My box of a replacement drum unit didn't get thrown about in the last 100 feet. Someone picking up a box and walking 50 feet with it usually isn't where shipping damage occurs.
  - Tempest1981 10y ago
    I remember seeing 2 major-name delivery trucks parked back-to-back at a fast food restaurant. The drivers were transferring packages from one truck to the other. By transferring, I mean tossing them 10-20 feet in the air, and letting them land. Reminded me of Jim Carrey in Pet Detective. (This was several years ago.)
- WiseWeasel 10y ago
  New idea for a game: Package Tycoon; give achievements and badges for successfully guiding the robot to deliver all your packages, and sit back while the kids do it for free! Or wait, scratch that; how about Uber for packages. Bored at work? You could be delivering packages remotely to supplement your income! I think it's only a matter of time before large scale data gathering service providers form a good-enough model of the environment in which they operate, to the point that the core service can be completely automated.
  - Someone 10y ago
    Uber for packages already exists (https://rush.uber.com/how-it-works https://rush.uber.com/how-it-works) They use "Earn on your own schedule" instead of "Bored at work?" as a slogan, though (https://www.uber.com/signup/drive/deliver/ https://www.uber.com/signup/drive/deliver/)
- Natanael_L 10y ago
  I have a feeling you'll need automation on the receiving end too. Smarter mailboxes where you literally address the mail to an electronic physical mailbox, which digitally signs the receipt.

Noos 10y ago

Good luck trying to automate a system where the vehicle has to unload a package of anywhere from envelope size to a 90" TV. It has to bring this across a driveway of varying shape or size, or even no drive way at all, bringing it inside an apartment complex or condo. It has to realize the correct address or room, collect a signature, or realize that no human being is present to sign for it. Then it returns the item to the truck. The sheer amount of variables that this would require, without error, would be ridiculous. UPS and other places tried to make the customer do it by storage lockers, and those failed. There's nowhere near any elegant form of solution to improve on that.

kbenson 10y ago
I think it likely that if we see a significant amount of automation in delivery, the last mile will eventually see it too. Right now, my neighborhood has grouped mailboxes[1], and anything more than a semi-flat package will not fix. Small boxes that don't fit are delivered to the shared larger compartment, which is locked, and the key is then left in your mailbox. When you use the key, it does not come out of the shared compartment, so in retrieving your delivery the key is automatically returned. I don't see why this system can't be scaled up somewhat. Automated delivery to a shared compartment which can be designed to accommodate such a scenario would be significantly easier. Want direct to home delivery by a person? I'm sure the delivery companies can accommodate you with a special type of delivery[2]. Theft might be a problem, but since these are generally in neighborhoods next to houses, and setting up a camera would be simple (and undoubtedly pay for itself in some circumstances when people contend they did not get a package), I think it wouldn't be too much of a problem. 1: https://www.mailboxworks.com/images/af-12doorcbu-lrg.jpg https://www.mailboxworks.com/images/af-12doorcbu-lrg.jpg 2: In truth, it would probably start with the automated to shared compartment delivery being a new option that's slightly cheaper. Eventually it would probably become the norm since it's cheaper.
- nucleardog 10y ago
  Are there really enough individuals (not businesses) that want to-the-door delivery that it's even worthwhile? My shipping experience is a constant fight to get them to hold the package for pickup because I'm not going to be home during their delivery hours (~9-5 Mon-Fri) and I don't want to wait four or five business days for them to make several delivery attempts before I go pick it up.
  - jschwartzi 10y ago
    I'm waiting for Amazon to finish their locker network so they start to sell un-utilized capacity for this purpose. This strategy is why we have AWS.
- Symbiote 10y ago
  Apart from the automated delivery, services like this exist. I used one in Denmark last week. I received an SMS saying delivery would be the next day, but I could reply to request delivery to the drop off point in a nearby supermarket instead of at my home. I did this. I received another SMS with a collection code. A keypad on the set of lockers opened the lock on one of them, and I collected the package at a perfectly convenient time. http://www.swipbox.dk/ http://www.swipbox.dk/
HCIdivision17 10y ago
Oh you're right, of course. But part of the ridiculousness of industrial automation is that at some point all those variables will be catalogued and dealt with. A bit poorly I'd bet, but we'll certainly see it happen. It'll just take another few decades...
MertsA 10y ago
For the last 100 feet, yeah sure, you'll need someone to handle the package. But my box of PCI express network cards didn't get a boot print on it in the last 100 feet. My box of a replacement drum unit didn't get thrown about in the last 100 feet. Someone picking up a box and walking 50 feet with it usually isn't where shipping damage occurs.
- Tempest1981 10y ago
  I remember seeing 2 major-name delivery trucks parked back-to-back at a fast food restaurant. The drivers were transferring packages from one truck to the other. By transferring, I mean tossing them 10-20 feet in the air, and letting them land. Reminded me of Jim Carrey in Pet Detective. (This was several years ago.)
WiseWeasel 10y ago
New idea for a game: Package Tycoon; give achievements and badges for successfully guiding the robot to deliver all your packages, and sit back while the kids do it for free! Or wait, scratch that; how about Uber for packages. Bored at work? You could be delivering packages remotely to supplement your income! I think it's only a matter of time before large scale data gathering service providers form a good-enough model of the environment in which they operate, to the point that the core service can be completely automated.
- Someone 10y ago
  Uber for packages already exists (https://rush.uber.com/how-it-works https://rush.uber.com/how-it-works) They use "Earn on your own schedule" instead of "Bored at work?" as a slogan, though (https://www.uber.com/signup/drive/deliver/ https://www.uber.com/signup/drive/deliver/)
Natanael_L 10y ago
I have a feeling you'll need automation on the receiving end too. Smarter mailboxes where you literally address the mail to an electronic physical mailbox, which digitally signs the receipt.