A billion people in the world lack access to all-season roads. Could the structure of the internet provide a model for how to reach them? Andreas Raptopoulos of Matternet thinks so. He introduces a new type of transportation system that uses electric autonomous flying machines to deliver medicine, food, goods and supplies wherever they are needed.
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I don't mean to be negative because I'm usually an optimistic person, but I just don't see the value in a system with a 10km range.
Not nearly enough time was put into a prefeasability study before this bloke went out to get funding, and he's been so busy trying to get funding (because funding is really hard work) that no one has spent the time researching the most effective delivery system. The map of his network is flawed, each segment of the network is approximately 100km's. If he had a vehicle that flew 100km's this would work. This would be great if it worked, they should spend much more time developing a system that has a chance at decent endurance like a VTOL fixed wing hybrid.
I've posted because I'm dissapointed that investors will put their money into a good idea, which I really want to work, but will likely fail due to fundamental flaws. Then when another person comes along who may solve the puzzle, investors will be wary and they may not get the funding.
"If someone from Matternet is listening, talk to us, please"
I sent an email to contact@matternet.us, asking for a response. More info about Matternet is here.
The problem with Matternet is that it does not seem to budge since over 3 years now. Imho, it stalls, and they could do way better. I am a bit surprised to still see people only find out now about the possibility of our little machines, but those are old news, and there seems to be no real, tangible evolution.
Nice concept art, but isn't it nothing but an illustration of the first 3 years old video?
What to think about the 'field test trial' video, featuring a basic drone (where is its protecting body?) obviously man operated? It would rather seem to be designed to shoot a video and fly fpv than transporting goods!
Who would approach in automated fashion like that, buzzing through the poor village and avoiding wires at 10 meters height? Common sense would instead dictate coming in a straight line from at least 100 meters high, stopping at waypoint at this altitude, and begin descent/operations for the release of the payload. The box containing the life saver goods had to be taken out of the drone by hand on stage on the Ted talk... A modular battery system, a modular and automated payload release system, ground stations with a weather forecast and route planning integrated system? We all thought about those, but where are they now? Give them time and money?...
Showing 10 kilometers range with 15 minutes of flight time, our average mean, even with 2Kg of payload? Is Matternet just a concept and nothing is really worked out and planned? They seem to have a great team gathered with numerous PhDs and CEOs, but do they need help from us? Why don't they reach out to us directly, we, the community? We have more specialists gathered here than any other place. I have seen here people showcasing their incredible electro-permanent magnet release mechanism, showcasing their 30 kilometers data link, testing their amazing protecting body for waterproof operations, showing stable flights characteristics in harsh weather conditions, building base stations looking like Nasa Houston Command center... Matternet technical challenges should have already been fixed, and definitely can be fixed right now.
Crude reality distortion, their field test focused on Africa. 'No roads infrastructure, changing weather, urgent need of medications transport system for a billion people'... The cost of transportation is next to nothing they say! But the cruel problem is that the cost of life there is also, well, next to 'nothing'. We're not living in a peaceful world. People would rather highjack the '$3000 drone' - knowing that their average income per year is $300 - than let it pass. They will find a way to get something from it asap. And that is a real problem. Stations every ten kilometers, with solar panels, automated weather forecast, radio tracking? Forget about that. They will get dismantled, scrapped into pieces and sold. Not even barbwire, cameras, or guards will do the trick. Welcome to Earth, 2013. Matternet would need way more than a ten kilometers range solution. The drones will need to be more stealthy, fly at good altitudes, with no predefined routes. If someone from Matternet is listening, talk to us, please. Give us hope that you are taking that seriously. Maybe we can help.
By the way, Matternet is mentioned in section 3 of this article.
Brilliant.
Nice to see the TED site offered links to drone-related talks, at the end of this one.