Google tests drone deliveries in Project Wing trials

BBC ^ | August 28, 2014 | Jack Stewart

[Seizethecarp]

Google has built and tested autonomous aerial vehicles, which it believes could be used for goods deliveries.

Google said that its long-term goal was to develop drones that could be used for disaster relief by delivering aid to isolated areas.

They could be used after earthquakes, floods, or extreme weather events, the company suggested, to take small items such as medicines or batteries to people in areas that conventional vehicles cannot reach.

"Even just a few of these, being able to shuttle nearly continuously could service a very large number of people in an emergency situation," explained Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots - Google X's name for big-thinking projects.

Google's self-flying vehicle project was first conceived of as a way to deliver defibrillator kits to people suspected of having heart attacks. The idea was that the drones would transport the equipment faster than an ambulance could.

The prototype vehicles that the company has built have successfully been tested by delivering packages to remote farms in Queensland, Australia from neighbouring properties.

Australia was selected as a test site due to what Google calls "progressive" rules about the use of drones, which are more tightly controlled in other parts of the word.

Project Wing's aircraft have a wingspan of approximately 1.5m (4.9ft) and have four electrically-driven propellers.

The total weight, including the package to be delivered, is approximately 10kg (22lb). The aircraft itself accounts for the bulk of that at 8.5kg (18.7lb).

The small, white glossy machine has a "blended wing" design where the entire body of the aircraft provides lift.

The vehicle is known as a "tail sitter" - since it rests on the ground with its propellers pointed straight up, but then transitions into a horizontal flight pattern.

[Seizethecarp]

Nice design work! Will probably fly with one motor out. I’ll bet it is really hard to hijack one of these, too.

Great PR to concentrate on the emergency delivery of defibrillators.

[Paine in the Neck]

Any drone that can find you to deliver a new pair of shoes can find you to deliver anything the drone driver wishes. Kaboom!

[cuban leaf]

We are on the verge of an era where we will view manned aircraft the way we now view Sopwith Camels.

[zaxtres]

The only problem I can foresee with taking drones into disaster areas with goods is the people on the receiving end. Most times people become ravenous and disparaged for some type of help that all civility gets thrown out the window. People push shove and god knows what else now to get much needed aid. Drones will only exacerbate the problem should they not be accompanied by some sort of human interaction.

Look at it this way, you are in need of some aid from the disaster du jour. You here the whirling of a drone and your heart is lifted as much needed help is coming towards you. The drone doesn’t descend it flies past and over you with the food you been hoping for for the last four days. Your heart sinks, your nightmare just got worse. However, if the drone lands you are happy. And when you see another human face to come help you are even happier. Because seeing a human face there to help means someone cares and no drone could ever replace that.

Drones may be a welcome respite in the beginning but boots on the ground is still better than wings in the air when it comes in the form of aid relief. Drones are only a partial solution. Human interaction will and always be needed. A human face in the time of disaster means so much.

[zaxtres]

hear not here... stupid text editor...

[wally_bert]

The old biplanes look like fun to ride in. At least for short hops. I saw a couple of kit ones at ERA a couple back.

[Moonman62]

The only problem I can foresee with taking drones into disaster areas with goods is the people on the receiving end. Most times people become ravenous and disparaged for some type of help that all civility gets thrown out the window. People push shove and god knows what else now to get much needed aid.

...

I’ve been through a couple of major hurricanes, and I found that not to be the case. I think it’s true in the movies, though.

[Moonman62]

Great PR to concentrate on the emergency delivery of defibrillators.

...

I like the video at the site. The drone delivers snacks, and the first to get fed is the dog.

[Moonman62]

Get yourself an Ercoupe. Originally sold by Macy’s and they advertised them as being as easy to fly as driving a car. You can still get one cheap, and some are classified as light sport.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ERCO_Ercoupe

[cuban leaf]

I’ve been through a couple of major hurricanes, and I found that not to be the case. I think it’s true in the movies, though.

---

Depends on the people and the situation. IF help was needed a week ago and it’s just arriving - and the last time it was late and not nearly enough, it will probably get pretty ugly.

i.e. as the situation worsens, so does civility.

[wally_bert]

Thank you for the link. I didn’t know about that craft.

It could live and at least be sort of tested at my parents place where they have a couple hundred acres doing ground stuff.

Depending on how I am doing next year financially and physically, I may see about learning to fly. This year has been rough on both fronts.

[Seizethecarp]

Here is WSJ story:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/google-reveals-delivery-drone-project-1409274480?mod=trending_now_1

[Vaduz]

Google autonomous aerial vehicles named UIS (up in smoke).

[zaxtres]

If you want to talk hurricanes... then Katrina comes to mind about people pushing and shoving when relief arrived. However, your exact experience(s) does not preclude other experiences nor should a conclusion be drawn that people in all disasters act in a civil manner. One just has to ask a UN Aid worker in a country like Africa or Indonesia (after the Tsunami) or about what happens when relief supplies are doled out to individuals. Heck take a taxi ride to TJ from the border of the USA. Get out of the cab and throw some quarters on the ground and see what happens to the young ones who shout out TEEP! TEEP! That is human nature at its finest when there isn't a disaster but one might called poverty a man made disaster. People are People. No more no less. More often then not these drones will be used in third world countries where the survival instinct for human preservation is much more prevalent than here in the USA. People are people. If they desire need or want something bad enough they will get it at any means necessary. Movies while may have dramatic license are usually rooted in a kernel of truth based on past experiences from observers who either wrote the script or have knowledge passed to the writers. I guess because you happened to have experienced a couple of major hurricanes your experience is all that matters. You don't know human behavior very well. I went through 2 hurricanes and two tornadoes in about a six month period (One tornado was the result of one of the hurricanes). But there was no major damage to warrant this type of drone response even with the power being out.

[Moonman62]

I think Katrina was a result of the media, the race pimps, and malicious politicians stirring up the usual subset of racist black misfits. The same goes for the recent looting for Saint Michael.

My area of the country isn’t much better, but nobody was stirring up trouble and the area probably had less crime than normal.