dubdisciple
They are putting a lot of hope in technology that is currently illegal for this sort of thing.

Cyber-Monday publicity stunts are illegal? 

Flying drones for commercial purposes is.

Mesh
Apart from the legal battles of implementing this, what's to stop someone from doing this:
 
"If one comes over my field I'll shoot it out of the sky a grab the goodies (as well as the drone)!!"
 
This is surely going to open up a can of worms.....

There are laws against theft and destruction of property. Even if the property is within your airspace, you are not automatically justified in seizing, damaging or destroying it. You can not make a valid claim to own the contents of an armored car that uses your driveway to turn around.
 
And there are definitely limits on the airspace a land owner can claim. By statute the navigable airspace above your property is controlled by the United States, and you cannot impede travel in that space. If you could show that the invasion of your airspace posed a clear danger or resulted in such a deterioration of your enjoyment and utilization of it as to render it unusable you might be able to seek redress...but probably not with buckshot.
 
http://supreme.justia.com...l/us/328/256/case.html

slartabartfast

Mesh
Apart from the legal battles of implementing this, what's to stop someone from doing this:
 
"If one comes over my field I'll shoot it out of the sky a grab the goodies (as well as the drone)!!"
 
This is surely going to open up a can of worms.....

There are laws against theft and destruction of property. Even if the property is within your airspace, you are not automatically justified in seizing, damaging or destroying it. You can not make a valid claim to own the contents of an armored car that uses your driveway to turn around.
 
And there are definitely limits on the airspace a land owner can claim. By statute the navigable airspace above your property is controlled by the United States, and you cannot impede travel in that space. If you could show that the invasion of your airspace posed a clear danger or resulted in such a deterioration of your enjoyment and utilization of it as to render it unusable you might be able to seek redress...but probably not with buckshot.
 
http://supreme.justia.com...l/us/328/256/case.html

Lawfully, a very valid point.........but, a person "skeet shooting" a drone most likely won't be a law abiding citizen if the opportunity arises.
This drone thing will open up a lot of doors to thieves.......especially in the more rural areas (providing service is available there.....).

bitflipper
My first thought was the drones would become a skeet shoot, with prizes.

That's what I'm thinking too. Don't think the unions will like it, but a very very smart idea. The top guy at Amazon is a genius businessman in my opinion. Time and time again they have innovated successfully. It wouldn't surprise me if they end up buying out apple/google/whoever else in the future.

Might be a great episode for Duck Dynasty.

Remember, these are likely to be "semiautonomous" helicopters, or Amazon will need a small army of trained pilots guiding each flight. Even in the hands of an expert, these machines are not without liability issues. If Amazon's publicity stunt were to actually hurt someone, it would not be hard to find a jury that would help empty their very deep pockets.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/nyregion/remote-controlled-copter-fatally-strikes-pilot-at-park.html?_r=0
 
 
 

You guys do realize Amazon never (within limits) expects this to happen. It's called advertising.
In other words "we will do everything to make you a happy customer".
How many times do you think the name 'Amazon' was uttered at the water coolers this week?

timidi
You guys do realize Amazon never (within limits) expects this to happen. It's called advertising.
In other words "we will do everything to make you a happy customer".
How many times do you think the name 'Amazon' was uttered at the water coolers this week?

You're right.  It's the perfect PR gimmick.  

Old55

timidi
 
How many times do you think the name 'Amazon' was uttered at the water coolers this week?

You're right.  It's the perfect PR gimmick.  

Yeah!!
We don't have no stinkin water coolers........Amazing is the word that's uttered round here!!