Uber unveils a new look for its food delivery drones

[CDX]

https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/28/20936410/uber-eats-food-delivery-drone-design

Uber is revving up to test its new drone delivery service for Uber Eats in San Diego in 2020. Today, the company unveiled a new look for its drone, which utilizes "innovative rotating wings with six rotors" to better enable the transition between vertical takeoff and forward flight.​

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The cargo capacity for the drone is a meal for two, Uber says, adding that the drone has already passed its "critical design review" and is expected to take flight before the end of the year. Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration gave Uber the green light to begin testing drone delivery in San Diego. ​

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The drone is designed to perform a maximum delivery leg in eight minutes including loading and unloading. It's cruising altitude will be below 400 feet in order to comply with existing drone rules. It will have a total flight range of 18 miles without a delivery, and 12 miles with one. And the drone can hover in wind speeds up to 30 mph.​

ERA, would you order food from a delivery drone?

 

[ToddBonzalez]

Sweet. Can't wait to try this out lol.

 

[Ryaaan14]

I'd use the service way more if I didn't have to deal w idiot drivers

 

[Ashhong]

I absolutely would use it, why not? But they better have good customer service for when the food is spilled or something.

 

[Hyun Sai]

Will the clients yell and abuse them if they're late ?

 

[RedStep]

Will they be tempted to pick up second orders to maximize their income?

 

[haxan]

No more tipping!

 

[giancarlo123x]

Dont need to fear the drone eating my food...but those fucking birds up there...

 

[Deleted member 33533]

That thing has an intimidating aura.

 

[Cor]

Do i need to tip the drone operator?

 

[Kaiken]

So many tips.

 

[Tapiozona]

people are going to break the shit out of these because they can

 

[ThatCrazyGuy]

I'd try it, nothing saucy though.

 

[Deleted member 2625]

I'd like to see this thing try to land in some Toronto neighborhoods. Like how does it allocate space. Surely you're not meant to pluck your food from the whirling dervish

 

[Expy]

Food will fall from the skies, and it will be glo.... delicious.

 

[brawndolicious]

Won't it get cold?

 

[ZiggyPalffyLA]

I'd use the service way more if I didn't have to deal w idiot drivers

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I absolutely would use it, why not? But they better have good customer service for when the food is spilled or something.

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Will the clients yell and abuse them if they're late ?

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No more tipping!

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Do i need to tip the drone operator?

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From the original article (OP should probably add this):

" Deliveries will not be made to customers' houses, says Bloomberg, but instead, will be sent to "designated safe landing zones" where Uber couriers will unload the package by hand and take it to the customer's doorstep. These landing zones might even include the roofs of parked Uber cars, which will be identified by the drones using QR codes. "

I'd try it, nothing saucy though.

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Saucy is a different delivery app.

 

[Burrman]

What happens when one of these things falls and kills someone?

 

[Slader166]

I'll feel bad for that drone when it receives a 1 cent tip

 

[Dixie Flatline]

No way this is ever coming to the South. That's free target practice.

 

[echoshifting]

I just want to be able to order a pizza that comes to me while I'm stuck in traffic. This looks like traffic pizza to me so I am for it

 

[Gernau Morat Gurgeh]

Dont need to fear the drone eating my food...but those fucking birds up there...

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If the seagulls over there are anything like british ones it's going to be a massacre

 

[Landy828]

As long as this drone doesn't make a second stop and show up late with cold food, I'm in.

Will it have a microphone so I can cuss-out the pilot/gps system if he hits some turbulence on the way?

 

[AndreGX]

What happens when one of these things falls and kills someone?

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The meal will probably be free

 

[Deleted member 4372]

i wont order until it flies the food right into my open window and onto my waiting plate

 

[Landy828]

Won't it get cold?

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They probably should have thought about that, I mean..look at that food...right out in the open.

 

[Freezasaurus]

people are going to break the shit out of these because they can

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This. I can't imagine a world where this doesn't happen.

 

[ZiggyPalffyLA]

This. I can't imagine a world where this doesn't happen.

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JFC nobody reads the article, they aren't delivering to customers. They're delivering to couriers who will complete the delivery.

 

[Burrman]

The meal will probably be free

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lol

nah but for real, I'm 10 years how many drones are gonna be flying over our heads? It's only a matter of time before one of these things kills someone. I always wondered about this when I think the future. Like when I watched the fifth element as a kid I always wondered how they deal with flying car accidents lol

 

[Noisepurge]

What happens when one of these things falls and kills someone?

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the same thing that happened when the first airplane fell down and killed someone.

 

[AdmiralAdmiral]

As long as this drone doesn't make a second stop and show up late with cold food, I'm in.

Will it have a microphone so I can cuss-out the pilot/gps system if he hits some turbulence on the way?

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Damn, harsh. Lmao

 

[flaxknuckles]

JFC nobody reads the article, they aren't delivering to customers. They're delivering to couriers who will complete the delivery.

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This means we still have to tip. Wack

 

[Stat]

No way this is ever coming to the South. That's free target practice.

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I just feel like won't it be followed and stolen? Like won't it definitely hit something? what if you live in a condo? What happens when it nicks a tree?

 

[Deleted member 2625]

If the seagulls over there are anything like british ones it's going to be a massacre

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actually this is a good point

you might see the drone show up with your food leading an attack formation of birds

 

[ChrisJSY]

I just feel like won't it be followed and stolen? Like won't it definitely hit something? what if you live in a condo? What happens when it nicks a tree?

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Why would it fly toward an object at all?
Predetermined areas or open spaces by uber drivers cars.

 

[ned_ballad]

If the seagulls over there are anything like british ones it's going to be a massacre

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It'll only take one to associate the drone with food and then it's all over.

 

[Squarehard]

 

[smurfx]

From the original article (OP should probably add this):

" Deliveries will not be made to customers' houses, says Bloomberg, but instead, will be sent to "designated safe landing zones" where Uber couriers will unload the package by hand and take it to the customer's doorstep. These landing zones might even include the roofs of parked Uber cars, which will be identified by the drones using QR codes. "

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wonder how long it takes before people find out how to hack these qr codes and steal food.

 

[Gernau Morat Gurgeh]

actually this is a good point

you might see the drone show up with your food leading an attack formation of birds

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Yeah. Noone wants a phalanx of pissed of seagulls ripping a drone apart at their door.

It'll only take one to associate the drone with food and then it's all over.

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Agreed. Those things are smart when it comes to finding food. They will track down and murder any drone once they learn to associate them with food.

 

[Walter White Walker]

Needs more propellers.

 

[pj-]

wheres all the cameras for obstacle avoidance?

 

[Deleted member 2625]

It is a cool design. But it seems like sci fI in practical terms

 

[Deleted member 49482]

They long-term plan is eventually to deliver directly to people ordering the food and/or to drop-boxes of some sort that can be directly accessed by the person ordering the food. Cutting out the human delivery person is the end game.

I'm hoping when that happens that these drones have some sort of really good security features that makes it relatively easy to find and prosecute anyone who messes with them.

 

[lunarworks]

I'd like to see this thing try to land in some Toronto neighborhoods. Like how does it allocate space. Surely you're not meant to pluck your food from the whirling dervish

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Gotta deal with the flight restriction zones before you can even consider landing.

 

[Dennis8K]

Where do the weapon bays go?

 

[Cat Party]

I sincerely hope that people smash these out of the air with sledgehammers.

 

[Flex1212]

This looks like something SkyNet would of designed.

 

[shnurgleton]

" Deliveries will not be made to customers' houses, says Bloomberg, but instead, will be sent to "designated safe landing zones" where Uber couriers will unload the package by hand and take it to the customer's doorstep. These landing zones might even include the roofs of parked Uber cars, which will be identified by the drones using QR codes. "

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OK so drone delivery is 100% pointless then

 

[gnexus]

These damn millennials are invading us again!

 

[SugarNoodles]

Would be a shame if people were to vandalize those drones.