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If you're talking about small (last-mile) deliveries, there's a big difference between manned and unmanned delivery: if your package is ~1 kg and your pilot is

If you're talking about small (last-mile) deliveries, there's a big difference between manned and unmanned delivery: if your package is ~1 kg and your pilot is ~80 kg then an unmanned craft can be ~1% the size of a manned one. On the other hand if it's ~900 kg vs ~980 kg then it seems to make less of a difference whether or not there's a pilot.

fredliu 9y ago
Sure, labor is cheap in China, but still, you'd pay $0 for the pilot for the unmanned drone, and it can fly 24/7. Edit: ok, maybe not $0 since the drone may not be autonomous, but still, much cheaper operating drones on the ground than hiring a pilot.
- throwaway2048 9y ago
  (almost) no medium to large aircraft can fly 24/7, especially not ones having to undergo the mechanical strain of liftoff/landing constantly. Unless of course you are ok with them crashing in your living room randomly.
smlacy 9y ago
I think it's not so much the weight of the pilot but how requiring a pilot effects the upper bound of 'delivers per day'. - Pilot can't reasonably fly more than 8-10hrs a day Need at least 3 pilots per aircraft for 24/7 delivery support. - Pilot needs a salary, drastically increasing the OpEx of each drone (vs. "just maintenance and electricity") - Ability to train & hire pilots limits total fleet size. - Pilots require insurance, which is likely a nontrivial amount. (depending on regulatory environment, of course) Imagine being able to build 1,000 drones in a factory. Can you as easily hire, train & pay 3,000 pilots? Probably not.
- nradov 9y ago
  No sizable aircraft can operate around the clock. They would need periodic down time for labor intensive inspections and maintenance. Look at the mission-capable rates, operating cycles, and maintenance schedules for medium-sized military drones today. There are no magic solutions here.
  - touristtam 9y ago
    No but presumably in a cost oriented operation, you could problably get 2 vehicle to work in tandem vs 1 vehicle and 2-3 human pilots.

fredliu 9y ago

Sure, labor is cheap in China, but still, you'd pay $0 for the pilot for the unmanned drone, and it can fly 24/7. Edit: ok, maybe not $0 since the drone may not be autonomous, but still, much cheaper operating drones on the ground than hiring a pilot.

throwaway2048 9y ago
(almost) no medium to large aircraft can fly 24/7, especially not ones having to undergo the mechanical strain of liftoff/landing constantly. Unless of course you are ok with them crashing in your living room randomly.

smlacy 9y ago

I think it's not so much the weight of the pilot but how requiring a pilot effects the upper bound of 'delivers per day'. - Pilot can't reasonably fly more than 8-10hrs a day Need at least 3 pilots per aircraft for 24/7 delivery support. - Pilot needs a salary, drastically increasing the OpEx of each drone (vs. "just maintenance and electricity") - Ability to train & hire pilots limits total fleet size. - Pilots require insurance, which is likely a nontrivial amount. (depending on regulatory environment, of course) Imagine being able to build 1,000 drones in a factory. Can you as easily hire, train & pay 3,000 pilots? Probably not.

nradov 9y ago
No sizable aircraft can operate around the clock. They would need periodic down time for labor intensive inspections and maintenance. Look at the mission-capable rates, operating cycles, and maintenance schedules for medium-sized military drones today. There are no magic solutions here.
- touristtam 9y ago
  No but presumably in a cost oriented operation, you could problably get 2 vehicle to work in tandem vs 1 vehicle and 2-3 human pilots.