The future of deliveries might get from days to minutes, at least for students in Sydney when they return to college next year. Australian start-ups Zookal (Text book rental) and Flirtey (unmanned aerial vehicles) have hooked up aiming to complete deliveries within minutes instead of hours or days.
I thought it might be April Fools day, but these guys appear to be serious – The aim is that you’ll be able to order a book and it’ll be despatched by an unmanned drone. The drone will track you down using GPS, anti-collision technology and home in on your smartphone. At the moment their biggest hurdle (apart from proving the technology) is negotiations with the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority and getting permission to fly.
Gimmick, or the future? Will we one day get deliveries by unmanned aerial vehicles? Flirtey say that once they’ve cracked books they’ll be looking at takeaway delivery and even blood delivery in medical emergencies. One thing’s for sure though, it’ll give those UFO spotters something new to get excited about.
Thank to Christoph from iwoca for spotting this story
3 Responses
My immediate thought was “The Hunger Games”. Do we humans really want to be tracked 24/7 which is this future.
I can remember back to the days of “Tomorrows World” on the TV and indeed numerous Science Fiction Films with “Cars” and other vehicles moving through the sky rather than driving along the ground. Perhaps just perhaps this development in Australia could mean that all the predictions that we all said would not happen is about to happen?
Looking at the vehicle in the video does it not remind you of the flying cameras that often fly above sporting events taking interesting photos from the sky and trying to keep out of the way of the “6” struck by the Batsmen.
I’m just waiting for pizza deliveries to be made this way.