Amazon Drone Delivery

**Paul** · 08-05-2026, 20:09

Amazon has started testing its Drone Delivery Service in the UK (Darlington).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c0l21992z75o

Jaymoss · 09-05-2026, 05:56

as long as there is an option to not have it drone delivered when it is valuable and/or fragile also you can imagine the parcel bandits tracking them and just nicking them after they have been gently dropped into your garden

Anonymouse · 09-05-2026, 09:23

Lazy. Just lazy, as well as penny-pinching. I don't like the idea at all. In terms of goods safety, I'd rather take the time and trouble to have stuff delivered to the Newport Street Post Office. At least there I know I'll get it without some scrote nicking off with it. I can't see a drone ringing my doorbell, and how would I know anything had arrived?

Idea: maybe it could send an email.

Plus - it's just occurred to me - how will it know which door to use? My Mum, rest her soul, preferred the back door owing to the design of our estate, people used it far more frequently, and our posties were well aware of this (mostly). How would a drone know that without AI and a detailed image via Google Earth (possible privacy concerns there. GDPR, anyone?)?

nomadking · 09-05-2026, 09:37

Not sure there's much point in urban areas. Chances are they have many other deliveries in the same area. One-off deliveries to small villages are different.

Carth · 09-05-2026, 09:57

Just another gimmick that won't catch on, although allegedly these delivery drones seem to work well for drug runs . .

Hom3r · 09-05-2026, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymouse

Lazy. Just lazy, as well as penny-pinching. I don't like the idea at all. In terms of goods safety, I'd rather take the time and trouble to have stuff delivered to the Newport Street Post Office. At least there I know I'll get it without some scrote nicking off with it. I can't see a drone ringing my doorbell, and how would I know anything had arrived?

Idea: maybe it could send an email.

Plus - it's just occurred to me - how will it know which door to use? My Mum, rest her soul, preferred the back door owing to the design of our estate, people used it far more frequently, and our posties were well aware of this (mostly). How would a drone know that without AI and a detailed image via Google Earth (possible privacy concerns there. GDPR, anyone?)?

IIRC you have a QR type code in the area you want it put

Anonymouse · Today, 10:04

Yes, I suppose that might make some difference. Still a bad, lazy idea, though.

Carth · Today, 10:19

I can't see them ever reaching the 'delivery' skills of the human Amazon delivery drivers, long way to go before they can pop a parcel through a half open window, into the wheely bin, or under the back wheels of the neighbours car

**Paul** · Today, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymouse

Yes, I suppose that might make some difference. Still a bad, lazy idea, though.

How is it lazy ? (or bad ?)

nomadking · Today, 16:39

Taking over 4 hours to travel around 500metres and driving along several other roads in the wrong direction, is bad and lazy. That's from a "you're the next stop" situation. Regular occurrence. One hour delay for lunch I could understand but .... Another occurrence this afternoon.

Carth · Today, 16:55

Having had some experience in deliveries (not parcels), the problem could be that the route is worked out in advance, usually by some dick in an office that doesn't even drive

nomadking · Today, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth

Having had some experience in deliveries (not parcels), the problem could be that the route is worked out in advance, usually by some dick in an office that doesn't even drive

Before GPS was available, I worked on route planning software. That included the drivers having to take breaks at the legally required times.
Nowhere near as bad as this. Just strange the long delays and passing by my location and then going in various wrong directions.
Just hoping for some kind of explanation for the strange behaviour. Current location of the vehicle is still the same as it was an hour after the actual delivery.

Carth · Today, 18:55

Isn't tracking technology great.

After the daughter passed her test she was required by Insurance to have a black box thing fitted. One day the wife was playing about with her phone app to see where she'd been the day before, and the app said her car was currently 18 miles away . . . a quick glance out of the window showed it sitting in the drive