Courier Network (For real)

[Gryph]

Your research plan would be MUCH more sensible and reasonable if a series of baby objectives were included rather than the final objective.

There is nothing wrong with baby steps, but no one unleashes their babies on the roads, they first attempt those baby steps in the safety of baby's home.

What we're arguing about here, anyway? We agree on the baby steps idea, it's just that I didn't make it sufficiently baby steps.

To put it mildly, that your robotic system compares unfavorably to existing systems.

We're attacking your lack of "sufficiently baby steps".

[1714181442]

1714181442

[kiba]

To put it mildly, that your robotic system compares unfavorably to existing systems.

So what if it is?

It's not going to be automatically superior from day one.

[kiba]

We're attacking your lack of "sufficiently baby steps".

And remote control was not good enough for you.

[Gryph]

We're attacking your lack of "sufficiently baby steps".

And remote control was not good enough for you.

nope

[kiba]

nope

Whatever get us to a proof of concept. The worst performance characteristic, literally likely to fall apart, etc. I don't care if a human have to follow it.

That is the spirit of my plan.

I think robot couriers are a cool idea. You think it's impractical. Pfft. Who fucking care.

[Gryph]

nope

Whatever get us to a proof of concept. The worst performance characteristic, literally likely to fall apart, etc. I don't care if a human have to follow it.

That is the spirit of my plan.

I think robot couriers are a cool idea. You think it's impractical. Pfft. Who fucking care.

Cool Idea, and impractical are not mutually exclusive.

Do you not care about your project?

[kiba]

Do you not care about your project?

I said: whatever it takes to get a proof of concept going. If a human being have to follow it, let it be so. If it have to go around the neighborhood sidewalks ten time, let it be so. If it have to learn how to make it out of the door of my house, let it be so.

Is that so hard to communicate?

[kiba]

In any case, I have no knowledge, experience, or the resources to execute it.

I have nothing to say until I execute a prototype.

[Gryph]

@Kiba

So... You want to do whatever it takes.... ok....

But... you have "no knowledge, experience, or the resources to execute it."


I rest my case.

[benjamindees]

It would be easy (and cheaper) to build a device that rides on rails.  Weight and range wouldn't be an issue.  It could be be autonomous very easily.

[benjamindees]

http://www.instructables.com/community/do-it-yourself-4-wheel-adult-sized-pedal-bike-car/

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

train detection

[rebuilder]

I was looking at hexacopters some time ago. Didn't end up getting one, got a Makerbot instead, but anyway, from what I could tell, a working package would come to around 2000 € (whatever that is in USD at the moment), with GPS autopilot and such. Can carry maybe a pound of material, top speed was supposedly around 80 km/h. (!) Don't think it can land on its own at the moment, not sure. But the ability to take off, rise to the desired height and to fly through a series of waypoints is there.

[Nefario]

It would be easy (and cheaper) to build a device that rides on rails.  Weight and range wouldn't be an issue.  It could be be autonomous very easily.

Not a bad idea actually, a monorail, something as simple as a pole that runs along the side of a few buildings would provide a local area delivery system that could be reliable,quick and safe.

[benjamindees]

rail bike

[bitcool]

A courier service is one of those things that humans are naturally really good at. They have built-in sensors, obstacle and collision avoidance algorithms, their own propulsion system (takes up nearly half their body), energy consumption and distribution systems, AND they can deal with many unforeseen circumstances including angry house pets. Best of all, their initial base cost of around $110k-$150k is not paid by you, but by a parent human or even partially subsidized by the government. You just have to pay a rental fee that works out to approximately minimum wage.

$110k-$150k? oh man, where did you get that number from? sounds way too low to me.

[Nefario]

The whole problem with the rail idea is not so much the actual building of the rail network, although that in itself could be expensive... The problem is rather obtaining rights-of-way. From experience, this is also costly and fraught with red-tape. To do so you have to convince all the owners of rights-of-way to agree with your terms, as well as zoning commissions, and municipalities, then there is liability exposure to think about and the cost for underwriting it... A high bar for entry.   

Do it at night when no one is looking. But seriously, you're right. So pizza delivery boys/girls it needs to be then.

[bitcool]

The whole problem with the rail idea is not so much the actual building of the rail network, although that in itself could be expensive... The problem is rather obtaining rights-of-way. From experience, this is also costly and fraught with red-tape. To do so you have to convince all the owners of rights-of-way to agree with your terms, as well as zoning commissions, and municipalities, then there is liability exposure to think about and the cost for underwriting it... A high bar for entry.   

there is a solution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw8etotz3TI

[error]

Do it at night when no one is looking. But seriously, you're right. So pizza delivery boys/girls it needs to be then.

Why not? Many pizza delivery people deliver other stuff, too. I'm sure you know the stuff I'm talking about.

[MBS]

Would probably easier to just get bike couriers in big cities to accept bitcoin.

[Gryph]

A courier service is one of those things that humans are naturally really good at. They have built-in sensors, obstacle and collision avoidance algorithms, their own propulsion system (takes up nearly half their body), energy consumption and distribution systems, AND they can deal with many unforeseen circumstances including angry house pets. Best of all, their initial base cost of around $110k-$150k is not paid by you, but by a parent human or even partially subsidized by the government. You just have to pay a rental fee that works out to approximately minimum wage.

$110k-$150k? oh man, where did you get that number from? sounds way too low to me.

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

You can verify the data in the citations.