Posted on 02/04/2015 9:37:00 AM PST by goldstategop
China's biggest internet retailer says it has begun testing drone-based deliveries to hundreds of customers.
It says the trial will last three days and be limited to areas within a one-hour flight of its distribution centres in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
The company's blog adds that it believes the technology has the potential to speed up deliveries.
Amazon, Google and parcel service UPS are among other companies carrying out more private trials of such aircraft.
Alibaba is using its drones to deliver orders for a specific type of ginger tea, helping limit the maximum weight of the packages to 340g (12oz).
The Tech in Asia blog, which was one of the first to report the development, said the experiment was being undertaken by Alibaba's Taobao division - an eBay-like marketplace that connects third-party sellers and buyers - and would involve 450 shoppers.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Now you can get ginger tea drone delivered in China. Make you very rich man.
Alibaba?
Where are the Forty Thieves?
Damn, but that is one INGENIOUS isea !
Its China’s version of Amazon.
Its the most valuable Chinese company in the world.
I looked it up and came here to post it when I saw YOUR comment
Taobao is more like eBay - an online marketplace.
Flying teabag? Do they dip a couple times and then fly on to the next cup of hot water?
I’ll take a large pepperoni pizza....How long can I expect to wait?
fifteen minutes max!
If its ever realized, you could have pizza delivery in ten minutes.
This is only for novelty sake - to say they can do whatever Amazon can do.
China is absolutely not suited for this - and the Chinese Government will absolutely not allow this to develop unless they have absolute control over it.
China has a huge free market.
Alibaba is so valuable because its privately owned.
This delivery methodology has so much potential for failure...
1.12 gauge Target practice for would be thieves.
2.People stealing/damaging drones at delivery
3.Safety of drone as it lands/takes-off (blades chopping off body members)
4.Bad battery/Failures - packages landing on people’s heads, cars, etc....
Yes, of course it does. I'm talking about drone delivery....
Amazon has been working on this alreday, last I read they are hung up in government red tape.
ebay / amazon .. they’re all the same to someone that doesn’t use them, but ... OK
They'll sell you lots of millions ... how many lots y'want ?
Alibaba and other Chinese businesses succeed (exist) because the ChiComm government allows it (controls it and takes a big cut of the profits.) It is amazing what you can do when the government plows the way for you.
The counterpoint is what is happening here of how even the simplest business plan can’t survive government’s efforts to stomp on it.
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