3 ms·

I hope the paper and cardboard construction they mention is feasible for commercial use. Otherwise I'm picturing a future where drone deliveries are commonplace

I hope the paper and cardboard construction they mention is feasible for commercial use. Otherwise I'm picturing a future where drone deliveries are commonplace and these plastic parachutes litter our streets and waterways.

hermitcrab 1y ago
I always assumed that drone delivery was just a publicity stunt (in urban areas anyway). I am hoping that it stays that way. I am really not convinced that a sky full of buzzing drones delivering people's toothpaste and takeaways is a great idea.
- icetank 1y ago
  But it would probably makes economic sense. A big cost of delivery is the personal that actually does the delivery. It might not be viable for all packages but probably for the premium delivery that promises sub 1 hour delivery.
  - hermitcrab 1y ago
    >But it would probably makes economic sense. Only if you don't price in all the externalities: loss of delivery jobs, environmental cost of the drones, cost of drones hitting people, cars, buildings and powerlines etc.
    - maxerickson 1y ago
      Replacing jobs with better or lower cost alternatives is not an externality. Like if you switch from a low quality butcher to a higher quality butcher, you are not imposing a cost on the lower quality butcher. You can not like it as a consequence of course, whether it is an externality or not.
      - hermitcrab 1y ago
        >Replacing jobs with better or lower cost alternatives is not an externality. Replacing 3 delivery guys with 1 drone maintenance guy imposes a cost on society if those delivery guys can't then find work.
        pixl97 1y ago
        Fine, then we stop making heavy equipment and dig ditches with spoons.
- HPsquared 1y ago
  It'll be like living in a late-game Factorio base.
- wkjagt 1y ago
  I think this would actually make me buy less stuff. Like, I can see the neighbors think, oh look, wkjagt getting junk from Amazon AGAIN.
HPsquared 1y ago
Biopolymer or paper, hopefully.

hermitcrab 1y ago

I always assumed that drone delivery was just a publicity stunt (in urban areas anyway). I am hoping that it stays that way. I am really not convinced that a sky full of buzzing drones delivering people's toothpaste and takeaways is a great idea.

icetank 1y ago
But it would probably makes economic sense. A big cost of delivery is the personal that actually does the delivery. It might not be viable for all packages but probably for the premium delivery that promises sub 1 hour delivery.
- hermitcrab 1y ago
  >But it would probably makes economic sense. Only if you don't price in all the externalities: loss of delivery jobs, environmental cost of the drones, cost of drones hitting people, cars, buildings and powerlines etc.
  - maxerickson 1y ago
    Replacing jobs with better or lower cost alternatives is not an externality. Like if you switch from a low quality butcher to a higher quality butcher, you are not imposing a cost on the lower quality butcher. You can not like it as a consequence of course, whether it is an externality or not.
    - hermitcrab 1y ago
      >Replacing jobs with better or lower cost alternatives is not an externality. Replacing 3 delivery guys with 1 drone maintenance guy imposes a cost on society if those delivery guys can't then find work.
      - pixl97 1y ago
        Fine, then we stop making heavy equipment and dig ditches with spoons.
HPsquared 1y ago
It'll be like living in a late-game Factorio base.
wkjagt 1y ago
I think this would actually make me buy less stuff. Like, I can see the neighbors think, oh look, wkjagt getting junk from Amazon AGAIN.

HPsquared 1y ago

Biopolymer or paper, hopefully.