Amazon Prime Air — why not?

Besides having to get FAA approval, the risks of whirling propellers and the dangerous curiosity of small children, why not? Amazon today showed off its research into Prime Air, a 30-minute delivery service performed by autonomous small helicopters that they say could be in service in a few years. Of course, there’s a video (see below).

Looks like science fiction

In Amazon’s own words, it doesn’t seem realistic. But just like Google’s ability to see ahead of the rest of us, Amazon probably has something here. Here’s what they say:

It looks like science fiction, but it’s real. From a technology point of view, we’ll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is actively working on rules for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Does that mean the FAA is working furiously on rules for Amazon delivery drones? Not necessarily, but this is a great example of the disruption of robotics and automation. If you job is to do something that is faster and more accurately done with a GPS and a flying robot, it may be time for retraining.

It’s also further proof that the best way to avoid being disrupted is to be the disrupter.

Soon we’ll expect it

All great ideas sound like science fiction when first proposed, but then quickly become assimilated into our expectations when they become real. This is no different. In fact, the very idea of trucks driving around neighborhoods, dropping off small packages this Christmas season may be something you’ll want to photograph for the Christmas cards you send twenty years from now — it will seem that quaint.