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Multiroters seem like such an inefficient way to do this, why is everyone doing that rather than a fixed wing aircraft? I know in the mid 20th century some mail
by swiley 7y ago
Multiroters seem like such an inefficient way to do this, why is everyone doing that rather than a fixed wing aircraft? I know in the mid 20th century some mail was delivered this way using manually piloted aircraft and very little ground crew (none had to be active when the package was picked up or dropped off.)
- joatmon-snoo 7y agoZipline is doing fixed wing. (Incidentally, they're mentioned in the top comment right now!)
- Jyaif 7y agoBack in 2014 Google was using fixed wings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRTNvWcx9Oo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRTNvWcx9Oo They must have changed for good reasons.
- jonas21 7y agoIt appears to be a fixed-wing aircraft that also has rotors, to hover as it makes the delivery. Assuming there's not a suitable space to land and take off again and you don't want packages randomly parachuting to the ground, this seems like the best way to do it.
- bseidensticker 7y agoIt's both. Fixed wing when travelling, multi rotor hover when dropping off.
- flavor8 7y agoI'd guess maneuverability. A multi rotor can stop or radically change direction in a much shorter distance than fixed wing. Also hovering.
- Pyxl101 7y agoThe drone needs to land to deliver the package. Most consumers don't have airstrips in their front yard.
- tzs 7y agoThat problem was solved long ago. Land on the roof and drop the packages down the chimney. Most roofs can handle a flying sled and 8 reindeer, so handling a small delivery drone should be no problem.
- nroach 7y agoaccording to the link the Wing drone doesn't land. It hovers and lowers the package by winch.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]