XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: john@jfeldredge.com   
      
   On Tue, 11 Mar 2014 14:42:31 -0700, David Friedman wrote:   
      
   > On 3/9/14, 1:00 PM, Greg Goss wrote:   
   >> wdstarr@panix.com  (William December Starr) wrote:   
   >>   
   >>   
   >>>> >>Except the drones almost certainly don't have the range to operate   
   >>>> >>anywhere but places like Manhattan.   
   >>> >   
   >>> >You load the goods onto the drones and the drones onto a cheap slow   
   >>> >cargo plane.  Get near the target area and toss 'em out.   
   >>> >   
   >>> >-- wds (I'm sure the Department of Homeland Security won't object.)   
   >> For one-way deliveries (the kind DHS cares about), that would work.   
   >> But for more normal cargo operations, you generally want the drone back   
   >> after the delivery, and this model doesn't work so well.   
   >   
   > Why can't the drones be programmed to deliver then return to the cargo   
   > plane?   
      
   How long do you plan to have the plane flying in circles overhead,   
   waiting for all of the drones to return?  Also, the package-delivery   
   drones I have seen pictures of look like their top maximum speed would   
   likely be lower than the minimum speed a conventional aircraft can fly.   
   If you were to have the mothership be a helicopter, it would be able to   
   hover in place, but its downdraft would likely be enough to prevent any   
   small drones from being able to rejoin it.   
      
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