Amazon secure drone patent for same day delivery by air

With the news that Amazon.com have received an approved patent for drone delivery the key remaining question is to what extent will the concept of same day delivery via drone be practical when the FAA finalize their study. The original FAA testing approval placed strict restrictions over airspace, height, speed and that the drone needs to be in unobstructed view of the drone controller at all times. With that said we're left wondering if that even partially fits the vision that Amazon and others might have for drone delivery.

What is clear at present is that Amazon seem to be in pole position to launch such a delivery service before any competitors if the FAA find some common ground with Amazon's goals. Testing permission was granted to Amazon in March but in all likelihood an actual marketplace launch is still some time away.

Amazon plans to use GPS for deliveries to residences but also intriguingly direct to the physical location of the purchaser wherever they may be at the time based on smartphone GPS coordinates. On first inspection it sounds like little more than a novelty approach but it will be very interesting to see in a few years if small same day delivery packages are being flown to people at a restaurant, in a park or at an event.

Whether regular drone delivery with something beyond limited coverage is a few years away or much further into the future is open to much speculation but all indications suggest that Amazon do want to lead the market when and if it eventually opens.

Do you think that a future which features drone delivery is right around the corner or will restrictions and demand mean that the concept fails to truly take off?