There are two benefits to ordering something heavy, like a washing machine, on Amazon. The first is that you don't have to drive to Home Depot and hump it in and out of your hatchback. The second is that you allow your local deliveryperson to maintain his deltoids, saving him money on a gym membership.



Other than that, having a package delivered to your doorstep can actually be a hassle. If a signature is required and you're at work, you're S.O.L.; in both rural and urban areas, an untended package left in front of a door invites theft; and some businesses refuse to deliver to residences at all.

That's why Amazon's planned drone delivery service is starting to sound pretty alluring. The recently-released details of Amazon's patent application reveal some surprising finds that have advocates in a tizzy: Apparently they're planning a "Bring it to me" delivery option, whereby the drone knows the physical location of your person—presumably tracking you via your smartphone—and brings the package directly to you. Not so practical for a washing machine, but certainly convenient for smaller items. Coupled with Amazon's plans for 30-minute delivery times, this would bring instant wish fulfillment to absurd levels.



The technical obstacles are manifold, but if Amazon can overcome them, the face of package delivery will change in unexpected ways. For example, this month Audi is starting a novel trial in Munich, in partnership with Amazon and DHL Parcel. Buyers can specify their car as the delivery point; the three companies then collaborate to not only track your car's location, but remotely pop the trunk open so the delivery guy can get the package inside—all without you being present.



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What would really impress us is if they could do this whilst the car was moving. You're driving down the autobahn, a drone catches up to you, the trunk opens, and the package gets dropped inside. Of course that sounds fanciful, but the concept of e-mail would have sounded similarly impossible to a letter carrier from olden days.