[prawn]

I have a feeling that we'll solve self-driving cars to your driveway a long time before we solve getting the package from there to a person/porch/mailbox.

I reckon for some time we'll see people sitting in self-driving cars just to take care of the final hand over.

Actually, just struck me that what might work is an Amazon Locker on wheels plus an Uber-style app. You track the package drawing near via app (plus alerts) then go outside to grab it from an opening on the van before the vehicle recognises a completed transaction and drives off. You could take a delivery at a park, home, work, anywhere with a road nearby.

[Animats]

"I have a feeling that we'll solve self-driving cars to your driveway a long time before we solve getting the package from there to a person/porch/mailbox."

Covering the last 50 meters with a quadrotor has potential. With very short flights and frequent recharges, the carrying capacity could be quite high. You could also deliver to apartment building balconies or trays mounted outside windows.

[mahyarm]

TBH, I think drone deliveries are possible today technologically, unlike self driving cars, and those can deliver to most porches.

[prawn]

Drones will have trouble with overhead obstacles and packages above a certain weight for a while, I think.