Retail Delivery Drones: Countdown To Liftoff?

By Matt Pillar, chief editor

Business Insider released new research on drones last week. The company says retail and e-commerce companies will lead the way as commercial adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) goes mainstream.

No, seriously.  

The firm estimates that 12% of the $98 billion in cumulative global spending on aerial drones over the next decade will be for commercial purposes. What’s more, “drones might be the missing link in the shipping chain that allows for nearly immediate e-commerce deliveries,” writes Marcelo Ballvé, editorial director at Business Insider's tech industry research service.

Yeah. So, last year’s beyond-buzzworthy Amazon Prime Air drone delivery announcement was fun stuff to talk and think about. But come on, propeller heads. Near-immediate e-commerce deliveries? Really?

In consideration of the impracticality, I actually re-read the piece. I scoured it for a clear indication of satire. I found none.

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