Amazon filed patent for 'unmanned aerial vehicles' for delivery drones
Earlier this month, Amazon celebrated the first successful drone delivery made by its Prime Air service.
But that's just the beginning of Amazon's aerial assault into our homes, if a recently unearthed patent filing is to be believed. A possible endgame for the drone delivery agenda: The use of roving "airborne fulfillment centers" (AFCs) to make Prime deliveries.
That's right. Giant, possibly autonomous motherships full of your favorite products that then spit out delivery drones to bring stuff to your front door.
SEE ALSO:Amazon’s grocery store disruption has a very human problemThe patent, which was filed back in May of this year for Amazon Technologies Inc., was brought to our attention by Zoe Leavitt of CB Insights.
I just unearthed the Death Star of #ecommerce via @cbinsights... AMZN patent for airborne warehouses at 45K ft spitting out delivery drones pic.twitter.com/qEz2ilUtJP
— Zoe Leavitt (@zoe_leavitt) December 28, 2016
The patent's abstract description doesn't quite paint the AFC as a planet-killer like the Death Star — really, it strikes me as being more akin to a Star Destroyer, if we're keeping with the Star Warsanalogies:
Described is an airborne fulfillment center ("AFC") and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles ("UAV") to deliver items from the AFC to users. For example, the AFC may be an airship that remains at a high altitude (e.g., 45,000 feet) and UAVs with ordered items may be deployed from the AFC to deliver ordered items to user designated delivery locations. ... Shuttles (smaller airships) may be used to replenish the AFC with inventory, UAVs, supplies, fuel, etc. Likewise, the shuttles may be utilized to transport workers to and from the AFC.
Just imagine all of the UAVs (aka drones) pouring out with deliveries like little TIE fighters.
The AFCs would act as just another distribution center for Amazon — only floating in the sky 45,000 feet above major population areas. As described in the abstract above, it could be autonomous but stocked by human workers or navigated by some combination of AI and human control.
While the patent is filled with potential design sketches and possible implementation plans, it's vaguely speculative in regard to the actual build of the AFCs. The first comparison that comes to mind from a description, though, might not be a great one: The Hindenburg.
An AFC may be a fulfillment center that is supported by and/or incorporated into an airship. An airship, or dirigible, is a type of aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft which can navigate through the air under its own power. Airships gain their lift from gas that is less dense than the surrounding air, such as helium or hot air.
Airship transportation famously died with the Hindenburg Disaster in 1937. We're decades beyond that now — but the comparison still resonates.
Amazon reps have not responded to requests for comment on the patent.
For now, the Amazon AFC patent is just another speculative move in the company's plan to dominate the commerce world. But as the Prime Air program expands, it's implementation could come closer and closer to what's required in the new ecommerce reality. A few years down the road, don't be too surprised if you look up to a sky filled with giant steampunk-y aircraft spewing out drones, zooming off to deliver toilet paper.
Featured Video For You
Amazon just made its first legit delivery via drone
TopicsAmazon
-
Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky 2024 livestream: Watch live WNBA'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for August 28“沙坪五粮液”即将进入市场Man Utd thrash Palace in League Cup14 Heists, Robberies, and Other Great CapersLeao fires Milan past VeronaNew research into footJacobs splits with coach CamossiSinner vs. Michelsen 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for freeTaskRabbit, citing coronavirus spread, will now waive task cancellation fees if you're sick
下一篇:Webb telescope just snapped image of huge black hole gobbling material
- ·Apple Intelligence is now a little easier to get outside the U.S.
- ·老党员手抄关爱故事 展雅安好风尚
- ·Indonesia still reeling from deadly stampede
- ·市供销社系统职工运动会闭幕
- ·雅安市举办首届“文轩教育”校园足球精英夏令营
- ·Arshad Nadeem opts out of Asiad to avoid serious injury
- ·'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for August 28
- ·四川商情·雅安专区 电子商务平台试运行
- ·What to expect when a tech bubble bursts
- ·YouTube reverses coronavirus monetization policy
- ·“沙坪五粮液”即将进入市场
- ·VAR fell short of expectations: PGMOL
- ·Pressure boost squeezes out more hydrogen from artificial leaves
- ·Three lawmakers vie for main opposition party's top post
- ·Pyongyang should allow IAEA to inspect nuke sites
- ·Two Koreas to make joint entrance at Asian Games
- ·NYT mini crossword answers for August 29
- ·J.K. Rowling debunks awkward story about Stephen Fry being rude to her
- ·Absent Ryder Cup veterans 'missing being here', says McIlroy
- ·Pompeo: US will ensure verification of North Korea's denuclearization
- ·Scientists discover where the huge dinosaur
- ·NK says int'l sanctions hinder delivery of aid to Pyongyang
- ·Korean Navy to hold Dokdo defense drill
- ·S. Korea, US adopt flexible defense posture
- ·Pakistan to host South Africa before ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
- ·Japan set up North Korea football showdown
- ·“精致小春姐”顾春芳:华丽白西装、镶钻水晶拖鞋,带来新兴凉果No.1
- ·强行冲关 疯狂飙车 逃费司机被拘又受罚
- ·Kane penalty helps Bayern snatch draw at Leipzig
- ·Facebook is valiantly trying but failing to moderate hate speech in some languages
- ·[From the Scene] How ‘world’s first oil town’ is wrestling to become ‘green'
- ·'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for September 4
- ·强行冲关 疯狂飙车 逃费司机被拘又受罚
- ·Altering 'Korea Armistice' offers loophole for North Korea
- ·We Bought the Cheapest DDR5 RAM Modules We Could Find, Are They Any Good?
- ·Analysts slam Trump for stopping joint military drills