![]() ![]() There are of course other obstacles, most of them regulatory.Īs Amazon envisions its airborne fulfillment center, it would fly in the lower stratosphere-around 45000 feet-where the delivery drones would be serviced and loaded. But the fact is that there’s no technical or engineering reason why such a blimp couldn’t work. Those drones would pick up merchandise that had been ordered by a customer below and then descend and deliver the purchase.Ī number of observers have said idea of an Amazon warehouse blimp sounds like something out of a science fiction novels, most of them dystopian. ![]() Online retailer Amazon has been catching a fair amount of derision over its recently disclosed patent for an airborne fulfillment center that uses drones for delivery.Īmazon’s patent application, which was filed on April 5, 2016, describes how a blimp-like lighter-than-air aircraft would hover near potential markets carrying merchandise that would then be delivered by unmanned drones. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. All rights reserved.EWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. It completed its first drone delivery to a customer in Britain earlier this month. ![]() It could introduce potential issues with passenger and cargo airplanes flying in the same airspace.Īlthough this system is probably years away - and it's unclear if Amazon will ever develop it - the company continues to roll out drone deliveries from its land-based warehouses. Stadiums don't have specified areas for drone deliveries, and venue owners may not agree to such a plan - they could lose money on concession and merchandise sales.Īn effort like this would also raise a series of regulatory and safety questions. Amazon's previous demos have relied on a drone making a safe landing at a designated area in a backyard. The drones could deliver items such as team paraphernalia or food to large crowds in a small area.Īmazon's blimp warehouse, which would fly near the stadium, could anticipate people's needs and stock up on popular items.īut it's unclear how deliveries would be completed in highly-trafficked locations. The patent cites sporting events as a place where the aerial warehouse would be especially useful. That's because the drones, which can run for about 30 minutes, might not have enough power to fly back on their own. ![]() The drones would initially fall to earth relying largely on gravity, and their motors would fire up for the final stretch.Īfter completing a delivery, a nearby shuttle would fly them back to the blimp. The patent describes how Amazon blimps would circle over cities at 45,000 feet and launch drones carrying orders. The move could also reduce the resources needed to make a delivery. The patent was recently discovered by an analyst at CB Insights.Īmazon's patent contends that such a system would allow for deliveries to be made in minutes. The ecommerce giant was approved for a patent in April for airborne warehouses that use drones to make speedy deliveries. WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) - Amazon may one day use blimps stocked with drones to get packages to customers even faster. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |