back to article Google's 'Captain Moonshot': I will BOMB you with DELIVERIES

Google has unveiled a new programme to build autonomous delivery drones that are capable of carrying items into remote areas. Project Wing Google's Project Wing The company said that its Project Wing craft will provide unmanned craft which could bring light deliveries to people in areas where automobile or large-scale …

  1. Mark 85

    Seriously...

    The guy in charge is named "Astro"? Was he named after the Jetson's dog by per chance?

    1. Thorne

      Re: Seriously...

      Well he's a boy so could be after Astroboy?

  2. Bill Posters
    Coat

    Sorry...

    Sounds like a load of bulldust to me...

    1. Thorne

      Re: Sorry...

      I don't think so. In cities I suspect the drones will be land based but in rural areas, I can see routes established not over houses to deliver goods.

      At least you'd have a better chance of receiving your good than relying on a courier (as they are a lazy useless pack of thieving bastards)

      This is long term but twenty years from now I suspect it will be common.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Sorry...

        Also, from the video it looks like a polystyrene type construction. Very light, and rather bouncy should it make an emergency/forced landing.

    2. ian 22

      Re: Sorry...

      Bulldust? Don't you mean "drone droppings"?

  3. DerekCurrie
    FAIL

    Prizes From Heaven!

    What weapon will YOU use to shoot down a drone and win a prize?

    1. Ole Juul

      Re: Prizes From Heaven!

      If you shoot it down your booty may land in a tree, or get broken when it hits the ground. A much better idea is to launch a purpose built Pirate Drone.

      1. Dr Scrum Master

        Re: Prizes From Heaven!

        Be careful, you only live twice. So watch out for the chap in Little Nellie.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Prizes From Heaven!

      Not really a fail. People can already try to steal off couriers. Around here many leave their van/cart at the top of the road while they deliver a few along the street.

      Is it worth it for a £15-£25 phone cable or USB thumb drive... or a can of dog food?

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Mushroom

    Google Copying Amazon?

    But using a VTOL aircraft and not a quad copter... interesting! :D

    (Icon for what happens when it goes wrong with your order of plutonium...)

  5. RyokuMas
    Black Helicopters

    And what other sensors will these drones have built in? Wifi slurping for any area they pass over? GPS-positioning and image capture of anyone with a Google-powered device in their pocket?

    Call me a tinfoil hatter if you like, but... no thanks.

    1. VinceH

      You're a tinfoil hatter. :p

      More seriously, if those concerns are valid (not that Google has any form, of course... ahem) then it doesn't make a single jot of difference if you say "no thanks" - the problem is other people saying "yes please".

  6. This post has been deleted by its author

  7. Elmer Phud

    Expectation

    I guess one of these things will be delivering my personal jet-pack or autogyro or atomic domestic cooker.

  8. xyz Silver badge

    Lob your stuff at you from a great height

    ....isn't that what existing delivery drivers do? Also I'd love to see the returns process. And I can see a great market in drone scrappage after they accidentally "fall" out of the sky. Or people hanging onto the cable to see if they can drone surf....c'mon, you know you want to.

    1. DropBear

      Re: Lob your stuff at you from a great height

      Or people hanging onto the cable to see if they can drone surf

      How sure are you there isn't (won't be) some sort of safety decoupler link attaching the cable to the drone (less than the drone's max. lifting capacity) that just cuts the cable if it starts feeling like an anchor...?

      1. xyz Silver badge

        Re: Lob your stuff at you from a great height

        lol...well if you can't drone surf (although it will be tried, or people will tie cats to the string), you can gently drag the thing down and into the maw of an Albanian* scrap collector's van. *Other eastern europeans are available. Texans will probably think they are angels though

  9. Alan Edwards

    Ryan VertiJet

    The design reminds me of the experimental Ryan VertiJet from the 50s, although being prop-driven it's more like a Convair Pogo.

    The VertiJet was weird. You "land" it by going vertical and hanging it off a hook suspended on a trailer, and had vectored thrust and puffer jets instead of moving control surfaces.

    That poor dog is going to go hungry, it only delivered one dog treat.

  10. Denarius Silver badge

    not sure about the load

    if this is to be used for country deliveries, then it should be simple to find 20 meters of "runway" Vertical take off or hovering use immense energy compared to winged powered flight, even with STOL operations. Probably not enough onboard smarts for that to be autonomous though. Apart from that, still looks like a solution looking for a problem. Maybe delivering urgent prescription medications might fit bill, but that is not a business case. Be fun to see drones as it looks like a neat toy for RC.

    1. FlatEarther

      Re: not sure about the load

      Yes, typical outback delivery

      - 4 x 44 gallon drums of diesel

      - 6 x Slabs Fosters Stubbies

      - Several bales fencing wire

      - Replacement transmission for tractor

      - Assorted Groceries

      - Bills (no rush)

      - Medical supplies

      Not much there that'll fit the lifting power of the drone.

      1. Tim Bates

        Re: not sure about the load

        The diesel is normally delivered by a tanker truck, not in drums.

        and

        No one buys Fosters in Australia.

  11. Gazareth

    I'm off to buy a butterfly net

    Free stuff!

  12. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

    Another step towards world domination?

    Wings over the world?

  13. json

    Pretty cool!

    .. I wonder when this will be available in hobbyking?

  14. Scroticus Canis
    Happy

    Useful for the inmates

    Special delivery from Google's Oregon depot to Cell Block B, State Penitentiary 1. Couple of lids should be within it's load range.

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