In other news, shotgun sales have exploded across the country and skeet ranges are reporting record attendance as sportsmen across the country prepare for "Amazon" hunting season. Said one local hunter "it brings a whole new meaning to 'golden goose'".

Regardless of all the down-sides to these drones, it's a fantastic, novel idea and I applaud Amazon for spending the time, energy, and of course, money, on attempting to make these things a reality. According to the interview, currently the maximum weight for a package is 5 pounds, but I suspect that as electric fuel cells become smaller and more efficient, both the range as well as the payload of these things will improve. However, it will be a lot of years before I'll be able get a new set of pistons and cylinders, delivered by drone, from Amazon. In the meantime, I guess I'll just continue to use FedEx Express for my important, time sensitive purchases, documents, and girlie magazines.:rolleyes::D

Except when they enter agreements with local businesses and install charging stations on their rooftops...

I bet there's all kinds of stuff that housewives will order to get "now", haha....

Even Jeff Bezos conceded that they were a long way from implementation. The problem with octocopters won't be grown men with shotguns, it will be dogs, kids with rocks, jokers with rakes and pellet guns, and lawyers. Before they've completed their first year in operation, there'll be (a broken) one hanging in every college bar, dorm room, and frat house. And a thousand videos on Youtube depicting novel and creative ways of bringing one down.

Of course, if they're deployed in conjunction with a second, armed version to provide close air support, that could all change.

I'll be baaack...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/12/01/amazon-bezos-drone-delivery/3799021/

Or worse, little Ferrari or baby Lamborghini!

Maybe Amazon will be hiring thousands, maybe millions of UAV pilots to fly their goodies all around America. Anyone have their HR Dept info?

Maybe someday, but not anytime soon. I do have to give him credit for thinking outside of the box. :D

A fun but ultimately silly and impractical notion.

There'd have to be advanced AI in there to avoid obstacles and stuff that pops up daily like moving cars, dogs, people.

I agree it'd become open season on these things, both for the novelty, AND the fact that you have iPads, jewelry, iPhones, maybe even drugs, flying overhead.

Speaking of drugs - drug dealers would dig on this technology. Load the device with weed, send it on its way... ;)

This reminds me of the flying car in every driveway that has been predicted over and over again (even recently) for the past 50 years.
I'm sure the amazon drones will have just as much success.