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[Another]

I think that this is a very relevant link. No comments needed.

This is also relevant in my opinion.

[kaijyuu]

I'm hoping the whole thing works out. Maybe it's not practical or something, but at least it's awesome.

[Tack]

Yeah. This is a necessary step on the way to us having a Sci-Fi future. So I, personally am all for it.

[Wiles]

This reminds me of of the Burrito Bomber.

http://www.darwinaerospace.com/burritobomber

[10ebbor10]

Anyway, another answer from the concurrention

Looking forward, by looking back.

Spoiler: Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Catapults.
  +Proven technology
  +Fast delivery
  +Can't be intercepted during flight

[Zangi]

Anyway, another answer from the concurrention

Looking forward, by looking back.

Spoiler: Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Catapults.
  +Proven technology
  +Fast delivery
  +Can't be intercepted during flight

How is the accuracy?  I expect that you'd mostly be launching lightweight items, which means their trajectory can be easily messed up by the wind.  You'd also have to consider where the item would have to land.  Cause you know... Americans love to sue.

[10ebbor10]

I think they plan to package the items with heavy stuff, like lead, in order to increase accuracy.

Also, for nighttime deliveries radium can be used. The glow makes it easier to see the package coming.

[Sensei]

Anyway, another answer from the concurrention

Looking forward, by looking back.

Spoiler: Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Catapults.
  +Proven technology
  +Fast delivery
  +Can't be intercepted during flight

How is the accuracy?  I expect that you'd mostly be launching lightweight items, which means their trajectory can be easily messed up by the wind.  You'd also have to consider where the item would have to land.  Cause you know... Americans love to sue.

I'm... not sure if you realize that it's a joke or not?

[Zangi]

Anyway, another answer from the concurrention

Looking forward, by looking back.

Spoiler: Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Catapults.
  +Proven technology
  +Fast delivery
  +Can't be intercepted during flight

How is the accuracy?  I expect that you'd mostly be launching lightweight items, which means their trajectory can be easily messed up by the wind.  You'd also have to consider where the item would have to land.  Cause you know... Americans love to sue.

I'm... not sure if you realize that it's a joke or not?

Oh right... you may also have to consider impact damage when you put on the extra weight and gravity.  Will the cd casing wrapped up in standard bubble wrap be able to take the fall damage?  Or do you have to spend even more on the packaging?

[10ebbor10]

This is a fairly low budget delivery service. The customer is fully responsible for receiving the package.

[Aseaheru]

The thing that kinda annoyes me about all this drone guff is that few seem to be airships, and those that are are just ignored. Kinda odd, considering there relatively good safety record

Spoiler: explanation, kinda long, kinda aggravating. (click to show/hide)

(most of the people on the Hindenburg escaped, and the R101 was done in by idiots. Many of the other events where caused either by bad weather or again by hydrogen. Ironically, the Hindenburg was designed to use helium, as was its successors (one of which was planned to have 200 passengers))

[10ebbor10]

Problem with airships is the square-cube law. Basically, the smaller you make it, the less efficient they are. Hence why the Hindenburg could be so luxurious. And yeah, the R101 is a sad story, especially because it resulted in the cancellation of the perfectly designed R100. A drone airship would catch to much wind for it's engines to make up for, and would be very hard to control.

On a side note, not many accidents were caused by hydrogen ignition. In fact, I know only of 2. ((Not counting airships shot down during 1914-1918)) Really most accidents were caused by bad weather conditions.

[Aseaheru]

True. Still, there is something to be said for airship drones.

Spoiler: More guff. (click to show/hide)

Its interesting, the thing that really seems killed passenger airships was the Nazis.

[10ebbor10]

The thing that killed airships was the war. I mean, even had the airships not been nationalized, and had there been no crashes, the industry would have gone under because of wartime damage. Airship technology stood at a standstill, while planes rapidly advanced. Meanwhile, their infrastructure and other elements were almost completely destroyed.

The USS Makron and USS Akron had killed the project in the US, leaving only the Sovjet Union with an airship program.

[Aseaheru]

Are you talking before or after?
Because the germans where building one and had plans for another.