Why the big rush for drones like Google’s Project Wing and Amazon’s Prime Air?

Google's advanced research labs, Google X, wants to do an Amazon and is prototyping 5-foot-wide 

drones for personal delivery services. Project Wing was used to bring treats to man and dog in Queensland, 

Australia, earlier this month. They brought cattle vaccines and water and radios, too, according to the WSJ, 

but you know that ultimately all drones will just deliver pizzas mostly.

Bearing in mind that commercial flights by drones are expressly banned by the FAA in the US, and that there 

are a lot of unanswered questions about danger and privacy, why the big rush into drones?

Well, the way the tech industry gets its way these days means that in the years it takes for 

drone systems to be fully developed the regulations will undoubtedly change. And, Google, much like 

Amazon, is into what its founder, Larry Page, calls "moonshot" projects.

And Google puts its money where its giant mouth is as it eats up the universe. In 2012 the company hired 

Nick Roy, an associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, to head the drone project at 

Google X.

But really, do we need to have this race to the skies? Are we so desirous of a future of giant mechanical flies 

buzzing around our neighbourhoods dropping gifts from the sky?

When did we become so damn inept at doing things for ourselves? I mean, I get the convenience thing. I also 

get the fact that if drones can replace the postal service, UPS and FedEx it means big bucks for the drone 

operators. 

I even get the fascination with the technology issues and the regulatory hurdles. It's fascinating and challenging.

By all means, drone away in Queensland, Australia, or across the Gobi desert, but leave the urbs and the 

suburbs alone. Get off your fat asses and pick up your own pizza or eat out every now and then.

Take your time. Enjoy the journey. Drones are not a technology issue but a social and cultural one.