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AMAZON HAS REVEALED its latest drone prototype which it says will be able to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less.
Details released by the company show the Prime Air drone to be able to carry packages weighing up to five pounds. It weighs less than 55 pounds and will fly under 400 feet.
The new prototype is different to the original one that it revealed almost two years ago, looking more like an airplane this time around. Much like the original prototype, the company still aims to deliver packages in the space of 30 minutes.
The other safety element is what it calls ‘sense and avoid’ technology that can detect any obstacles in the air and ground and avoid collisions. The drone can fly for 15 miles, and its design will be adjusted to suit different environments.
“We are testing many different vehicle designs and delivery mechanisms to discover how best to deliver packages in a variety of environments,” said the company in a statement. “We have more than a dozen prototypes that we’ve developed in our research and development labs. The look and characteristics of the vehicles will evolve over time”.
The demo video shows it delivering packages to those in rural areas – requiring buyers to place an ‘A’ symbol on the ground to show it the best place to land - but it did not show how it will deliver to people in urban areas.
The company says it will be testing the drones in multiple international locations, but regulations surrounding the use of drones differs from country to country. Ireland is one country in the EU which has legislation governing the use of drones.
“We will deploy when and where we have the regulatory support needed to safely realise our vision,” said the company.
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Finished playboy series of books.. It’s about a bunch of women who can’t afford clothes but get by by telling each other jokes. LOL.
@Jonny kerr: Playboy series? Completed it mate.
I used to read alot but its mostly audiobooks these days
@Tom Corcoran: They’re great for long journeys.
Podcasts are my go to.
I nearly always have a book on the go. Reading an instruction guide on how to play chess at the moment and there’s a recent murder mystery that the other half gave me last month that I’ll have to get finished soon. Still reaching for the John Cooper Clark poetry too, must be all that brakeless swearing!
Ah can’t beat a good book to be fair, mind you I read less nowadays but still try and get at least one on every few weeks. Audiobooks now when I’m driving around is my thing for the last few years so could add them in and it’d be easily over one a week, but audiobooks aren’t the same really as turning pages yourself. Nice picture to go with the article, assume they’re all about fishing… Herring Books is it!
Not as much as I’d like. I especially love harlan coben and micheal connolly.
@Brian Dunne: Harlan Coben is great. Can I recommend James Clavell to you? Shogun is a masterpiece.
@Greg Ward: cheers Greg! I’ve read basically all of coben and Connolly and looking for someone new.
@Brian Dunne: Only read coben this year for the first time, his new book “win” was very good. Im gonna go back and read his previous characters series
@Stuart Keogh: lucky you getting to discover his books for the first time, enjoy!
@Brian Dunne: I’ve read all of James Clavell’s books this year…. If you’re up for a challenge, read all 6:
Shogun
Tai Pan
Gai Jin
King Rat
Noble House
Whirlwind
All tomes, but all brilliant.
Does Fanfiction count?
I used to be voracious, reading multiple books a month but not anymore.
I still read constantly, but not books. News, magazine articles, and yes, Fanfiction.
I was without my phone for 2 days recently. I completed 2 books I’d started previously and began a third.
Phones are the distraction and my ability to focus has definitely been impacted. The ability to “check” every thought has an “instant gratification” feel to it.
And please, no “advice”. I’m aware of all the solutions, thanks.
Signed up to kindle unlimited during lockdown so I’m reading quite a bit at the moment
2 books a week these days…absolutely love a good book. Lots of varieties of ones from business, biogs, true crime and fiction thrillers I read but if you are into thrillers…Steve Cavanagh books are great…hooked! Read 3 of them in a week… And clash of clans about Kinahans pretty good too.
@The Exhibition Guy – Stephan Murtagh: A man after my own heart. I’ve read every day since I was a child.
Can’t beat a good book, I have a kindle but still prefer a proper book though.
The only time I get to read a book is when I’m on holiday…by the pool, book in one hand, tequila in tother
Definitely not reading as much as I used to, used to read a good book in a day or two before my last child was born, nothing better than a nice warm bath and my kindle books. Although the kindle app on my phone means I get distracted by the other apps…
At least 1 every 3 weeks.
Since having kids I read Physical books a lot less , I just don’t have time but audio books are brilliant
I’ve written more books (4) than I’ve read (3) in the last 4 years! Well, if I don’t include my own I suppose…
@John Drake – You Should Buy My Books: fancy fcuker
@John Drake – You Should Buy My Books: wait..
I had to read this a couple of time … you’re kidding right? jockeys b@ll!x comes to mind : )
People love to boast about reading books but from my experience most people rarely read. Going by the poll and the comments you would think the majority people are reading regularly. Take a look around next time you’re on the DART or Dublin Bus and count how many people are reading a book vs having their head buried in their phone.
@Cillian Lynch: a lot of people read books on phones. I got through the whole of Stephen King’s Dark Tower on the phone. Great for commuting. Use a kindle more now.
@Cillian Lynch: I don’t know about other people,but I never read a book in public transports, café… it’s always at home where I have peace and quiet.
35 now, haven’t read a book since school
@Paul Mc: you’re missing out on a great pastime.
@Brian Tannam: ah I already have plenty of them!
Reading Dan Jones history series on kindle atm, huge John Connolly fan as well, can’t go wrong with him.
I always have a few on the go. Read a few chapters here are there depending on the time I have. Average of probably one per month. Casual.
I don’t physically read books but I listen to lots of audio books. Does that count?
Try to read when I can . Maybe every couple of weeks. Currently trying to get through the mammoth Dune Trilogy before watching it on the big screen. Other than this I like reading various Psychology based books – random I know, but I really enjoy their insights. Recently that would be “Give or Take” by Adam Grant .
Sad to see that nearly a quarter of the population don’t read books for pleasure.
I used to read 2 a week until it ruined my eyesight. Now I’m a bit resentful towards books.
Just finished Diarmuid Ferriter’s “Between Two Hells”——A wonderful analysis of the Irish Civil War.
@John Mc Donagh: I was lucky enough to have a history lecture by him in my first year in UCD.
Sci-fi i used to read all the time. But there is nothing left after I’ve read all the good ones. Boo hoo.
@Derek Moran: alas yes, sci-fi and fantasy can get a bit samey. Slogging my way through Malazen Books of the Fallen. Nearing end of number five of ten.
There was a time when I read a book about every two weeks but in recent years I’ve hardly read at all. Not sure whether it’s my fading eyesight or just so much going on in the world that I can’t focus but now when I go to bed all I want to do is sleep.
Once?
Not as many as I’d like! I’m reading a really good spooky book at the moment called Ever This Day, can’t put it down
I love reading ,have done since I was a child ,Thanks to my Mum .My grandchildren read as do all my children.I read all kinds .Im a member of a Library book club which is brilliant for getting names of new books and the discussions are both great fun and entertaining.and also very serious depending on the book
Ken Follett is a brilliant author . Also Victoria Hislop ,Both very different.
Listen to audio books every day on my commute to and from work. Used to read books quite a bit until the kids came along, now ain’t nobody got time for that!
I used to read loads as a kid and teen but slowly got worse and worse the older I got, and the more advance mobile phones got. Smartphone have ruined my attention span. Anytime I read a book now, it takes me forever
I use Audible for my interest in most subjects, I’ll buy the odd autobiography around holiday or birthdays but that’s it. It’s hard to have silence and the proper conditions to relax, sit and read in today’s rat race. The last books I bought was Old Ireland in Colour and Andy Coles autobiography.
I read lots of book reviews – saves having to wade through the actual books.
Power by Richard Heinberg is next on my list!
Around five per week but almost all on iPad
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