<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Hello,<br><br></div>There are plenty of other things you can do with the idea of automated logistics. I have written a few (unpublished) papers and proposals on the subject and hope to deploy a pedestrian robot to deliver items like cookies and sodas at NCSU campus in the next 6 months or so. My NSF application outlines some of the stuff: <a href="http://charlesrwest.com/sites/default/files/researchPlan.pdf#overlay-context=node/4">http://charlesrwest.com/sites/default/files/researchPlan.pdf#overlay-context=node/4</a><br>
<br></div>Highlights:<br></div><div>You can potentially use robots traveling on steel cables on telephone poles to deliver objects of up to 50 lb rapidly. These sort of rail systems would combo well with flying drones because the flying drones would drastically reduce the required infrastructure cost.<br>
</div><div><br></div>In addition to transporting goods, you can also transport other robots and supplies for them. This allows the offering of robotic services because the robots can get to and from the job site. This makes something like a leaf blowing robot possible because it can be deployed, clear an area and then be moved on to the next job.<br>
<br></div>You can also deliver goods to someones current GPS location using a phone app. This will be really nice for ordering lunch or sunscreen.<br><br></div>Large scale automated logistics would also make it possible to do small scale automation efficiently because you could reach a large surrounding area at low cost. It would likely replace cafeterias as the source for cheap and quick food.<br>
<br></div>Likely, it will be like cell phones as one of those technologies it is hard to imagine living without.<br><br></div>I'd love to talk with anyone interested in automated logistics this evening. Please tap me on the shoulder if you are at the meeting.<br>
<br></div>Thanks,<br>Charlie West<br><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Dec 2, 2013 at 11:17 AM, Jonathan Rippy <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jkrippy@gmail.com" target="_blank">jkrippy@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">My non-technical comment is that I'm guessing they chose to release this idea today for free cyber monday advertising? =)<div>
<br></div><div>Amazon's been all over the news today with this.</div><div>
<br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="im">On Mon, Dec 2, 2013 at 9:48 AM, John Vaughters <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jvaughters04@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jvaughters04@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="h5"><div><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif">
<div>
I can think of no better group than this to ask for thoughts.</div><div><br></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif">
My Thoughts:</div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif">
Crazy but possible, however, potential for problems may make it impossible. Injury Lawsuits, Theft of
packages or even drones, really too many issues to even mention.</div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif">
<br></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif">Headline: Drone causes car crash, 8 dead</div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif">
Anyone else care to comment?</div><span><font color="#888888"><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif">
<br></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:HelveticaNeue,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif">John Vaughters</div></font></span></div>
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<br></div></blockquote></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Jonathan Rippy
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