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All this really needs is a better guidance system. I'm surprised there isn't a startup for using artillery launched drones to deliver packages yet. Drop a packa

All this really needs is a better guidance system. I'm surprised there isn't a startup for using artillery launched drones to deliver packages yet. Drop a package anywhere within a 20 mile radius of the warehouse within 2 minutes.

volkadav 7y ago
Nice idea but I'd like to see the face of the insurance underwriter who has a proposal to fire artillery into built-up areas come across their desk, lol. Then again, Amazon is in Washington state and we do have some precedent for seconding artillery over to civilian agencies here (WSDOT used to use surplus 105mm recoilless rifles to clear dangerous snow packs from the I-90 et al. passes; it seems now they've been replaced by surplus M-60 tanks due to ammunition shortages for the older weapon), so who knows?
aaron695 7y ago
To go 20 miles you'd have to launch faster than the speed of sound https://www.amesweb.info/Physics/Projectile-Motion-Calculator.aspx https://www.amesweb.info/Physics/Projectile-Motion-Calculato... It's hard to think of a use case..... These days with the transitive nature of people, islands are going to have boats going to them frequently enough proportionally to the people on them such they can deliver goods cheaper. Information is wireless, the original reason for rocket mail I assume. Even reducing it to something sensible like an art project for a Burning man style event, firing a burrito (Search burrito cannons) 1 km away could still knock someone off their bike and hurt them plus it'd be inaccurate due to wind, rising heat, so a pointless project. You could of course fire vertically, expand out, then glide the delivery in accurately or parachute it down with guidance but you'd lose the delivery vehicles electronics = $. Maybe pick up, clip in clip out electronics to reuse at the end of the night across town, have a deposit for the buyer and reward for the collector.
- mlyle 7y ago
  You're assuming it doesn't glide at all.
trhway 7y ago
electric ducted fan RC models easily reach 100+ miles/hour. 10 minutes instead of 2, yet without all the really impossible to overcome in modern conditions hassle of artillery. While full VTOL on launch may be a bit much, tilting the ducts on return landing without payload you can even possibly have a smooth low speed safe landing/recovery.
- Smoosh 7y ago
  Zipline are already using small drones to deliver medicines in Africa: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/25/medical-delivery-drones-cleared-for-takeoff-in-ghana-zipline https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/25/m...

volkadav 7y ago

Nice idea but I'd like to see the face of the insurance underwriter who has a proposal to fire artillery into built-up areas come across their desk, lol. Then again, Amazon is in Washington state and we do have some precedent for seconding artillery over to civilian agencies here (WSDOT used to use surplus 105mm recoilless rifles to clear dangerous snow packs from the I-90 et al. passes; it seems now they've been replaced by surplus M-60 tanks due to ammunition shortages for the older weapon), so who knows?

aaron695 7y ago

To go 20 miles you'd have to launch faster than the speed of sound https://www.amesweb.info/Physics/Projectile-Motion-Calculator.aspx https://www.amesweb.info/Physics/Projectile-Motion-Calculato... It's hard to think of a use case..... These days with the transitive nature of people, islands are going to have boats going to them frequently enough proportionally to the people on them such they can deliver goods cheaper. Information is wireless, the original reason for rocket mail I assume. Even reducing it to something sensible like an art project for a Burning man style event, firing a burrito (Search burrito cannons) 1 km away could still knock someone off their bike and hurt them plus it'd be inaccurate due to wind, rising heat, so a pointless project. You could of course fire vertically, expand out, then glide the delivery in accurately or parachute it down with guidance but you'd lose the delivery vehicles electronics = $. Maybe pick up, clip in clip out electronics to reuse at the end of the night across town, have a deposit for the buyer and reward for the collector.

mlyle 7y ago
You're assuming it doesn't glide at all.

trhway 7y ago

electric ducted fan RC models easily reach 100+ miles/hour. 10 minutes instead of 2, yet without all the really impossible to overcome in modern conditions hassle of artillery. While full VTOL on launch may be a bit much, tilting the ducts on return landing without payload you can even possibly have a smooth low speed safe landing/recovery.

Smoosh 7y ago
Zipline are already using small drones to deliver medicines in Africa: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/25/medical-delivery-drones-cleared-for-takeoff-in-ghana-zipline https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/25/m...