# Taco delivery by drone aircraft coming soon, or not. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021 "2012-03-28T04:17:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/1 "2012-03-28T04:17:11Z")
It’s [Tacocopter](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/23/tacocopter-startup-delivers-tacos-by-unmanned-drone-helicopter_n_1375842.html), the latest high-tech business scheme. It’s not practical… yet. It’s not even legal… yet. And according to [plenty](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/the-marketing-genius-of-tacocopter/255092/) [of](http://whatstrending.com/2012/03/flying-taco-delivery-service-tacocopter-unfortunately-fabrication/) [sources](http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/03/qa-with-tacocopter/), it’s not even real. But it’s pretty damn funny, and pretty damn genius. I think these folks sat down and asked “What is the most dangerous possible technology deliver the least valuable commercial product the the laziest possible customers?” I think the same business model could be used to deliver emergency packs of cigarettes. Or crystal meth. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/2 "2012-03-28T12:38:07Z")
I’m holding out for pizza delivery myself. I won’t have to tip the drone. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/3 "2012-03-28T12:54:32Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’m holding out for pizza delivery myself. I won’t have to tip the drone. Hell, drone tipping may be the drunken fraternity prank of the future! Seriously, I liked this comment by one of the founders: [QUOTE=Star Simpson, Tacocopter co-founder] Honestly I think it’s not totally unreasonable to regulate something as potentially dangerous as having flying robots slinging tacos over people’s heads … [O]n the other hand, it’s a little bit ironic that that’s the case in a country where you can be killed by drone with no judicial review. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/4 "2012-03-28T12:57:17Z")
Maybe they can use taco delivery as a stealthy way to enter for assassination. (knock , knock) “Who is it?” “Taco delivery” “Tacos? I didn’t order any stinking tacos.” (opens door) “Oh, no! An unmanned attack drone!” (boom) ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/5 "2012-03-28T13:04:00Z")
The developers of that system perhaps need to do a little research into the FAA requirements for getting its control system certified for use in US airspace. The phrase “… in a country where you can be killed by drone with no judicial review” is factually inaccurate, also. But, hey, don’t let facts get in the way of such fine news reporting. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/6 "2012-03-28T13:07:02Z")
\ Who’s there? _Land taco._ I didn’t order a land taco. Go away. \ Who’s there? _Plumber._ Plumber, my foot! I don’t need a plumber. You’re that land taco! Go away! _No ma’am, I’m only a chimichanga._ Well, OK… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/7 "2012-03-28T13:33:52Z")
SNL presents “Land Helicopter” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/8 "2012-03-28T13:34:59Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > The developers of that system perhaps need to do a little research into the FAA requirements for getting its control system certified for use in US airspace. > > The phrase “… in a country where you can be killed by drone with no judicial review” is factually inaccurate, also. But, hey, don’t let facts get in the way of such fine news reporting. :rolleyes: Did you not get from the OP that the whole thing is a joke? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/9 "2012-03-28T13:47:58Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > SNL presents “Land Helicopter” Hey, you’re that clever land shark aren’t you. ---
**Author:** ![santorum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@santorum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/santorum)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/10 "2012-03-28T13:57:40Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > It’s [Tacocopter](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/23/tacocopter-startup-delivers-tacos-by-unmanned-drone-helicopter_n_1375842.html), the latest high-tech business scheme. It’s not practical… yet. It’s not even legal… yet. And according to [plenty](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/the-marketing-genius-of-tacocopter/255092/) [of](http://whatstrending.com/2012/03/flying-taco-delivery-service-tacocopter-unfortunately-fabrication/) [sources](http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/03/qa-with-tacocopter/), it’s not even real. > > But it’s pretty damn funny, and pretty damn genius. I think these folks sat down and asked “What is the most dangerous possible technology deliver the least valuable commercial product the the laziest possible customers?” > > I think the same business model could be used to deliver emergency packs of cigarettes. Or crystal meth. I love how Wired is very skeptical about that story, but not this [one](http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/human-bird-wings/) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/11 "2012-03-28T14:06:53Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > And according to [plenty](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/the-marketing-genius-of-tacocopter/255092/) [of](http://whatstrending.com/2012/03/flying-taco-delivery-service-tacocopter-unfortunately-fabrication/) [sources](http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/03/qa-with-tacocopter/), it’s not even real. No, there’s no way this ever becomes a company. I assume the guys behind it want to get attention so they have some name recognition when they try to get their real project off the ground. But yes, it’s hilarious. There’s a kind of stupid genius to it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/12 "2012-03-28T14:07:13Z")
“We’re sorry, but due to a software bug your taco was delivered to a dog by mistake.” ---
**Author:** ![tim\_duncan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@tim\_duncan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim_duncan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/13 "2012-03-28T14:30:44Z")
Tacos are cool and all, but I’d rather see that technology be used for something a little more practical. Emergency medical care comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/14 "2012-03-28T14:50:09Z")
> [@tim\_duncan](#): > > Tacos are cool and all, but I’d rather see that technology be used for something a little more practical. Emergency medical care comes to mind. I use mine for aerial photography. But the idea of using it to fetch me some snack is very appealing! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/15 "2012-03-28T15:26:53Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Did you not get from the OP that the whole thing is a joke? It is? Damn. ☹ I thought this was America, where dreams of flying tacos were brought to reality! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/16 "2012-03-28T15:36:46Z")
It’s genius and can’t lose, provided there’s a market for four-thousand-dollar tacos. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/17 "2012-03-29T07:40:19Z")
I love the advert at the bottom right of their [webpage](http://tacocopter.com/). LobsterCopter - Taco Of The East! Because mating the power of flight with the malevolence and generally terror-inspiring attributes of lobsters must have seemed a good idea at the time. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/18 "2012-03-29T11:44:07Z")
From the OP link: > [@](#): > > “Current U.S. FAA regulations prevent … using UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, like drones] for commercial purposes at the moment,” If the above is true and not just part of the Tacocopter story - Would this include remotely operated aerial vehicles for say survey or observation purposes? Would this also extend to using weather ballons? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/19 "2012-03-29T12:20:50Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > From the OP link: > > If the above is true and not just part of the Tacocopter story - Would this include remotely operated aerial vehicles for say survey or observation purposes? Would this also extend to using weather ballons? The thing about the FAA rules is true. I out about it separately related to another issue. And yes, it would preclude _private, commercial_ use of UAVs for survey, observation or weather reporting. Some companies have already been stopped from doing it. But not government use – so presumably the US Weather Service or USGS could go ahead and do it if they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021/20 "2012-03-29T12:34:47Z")
FYI, kanicbird, [the FAA’s rules will be changing soon](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/technology/drones-with-an-eye-on-the-public-cleared-to-fly.html?pagewanted=all). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-delivery-by-drone-aircraft-coming-soon-or-not/617021.md?page=2)