Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)‘s delivery drone plans may have appeared more of a media stunt than something concrete when it started off. But things are hotting up with active testing underway in Canada and new details in a patent application.
The new proposed patent for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Delivery system has some interesting details regarding Amazon’s proposed automated package transport plans.
The UAVs will be able to deliver to a host of locations and have the capability to follow customers leveraging GPS to deliver to them no matter their geographical location.
A feature named “Bring It To Me” will let the drone deliver goods directly to the user based on their present location as calculated by a mobile device or Wi-Fi network. Whether users perceive this potential feature as an invasion of privacy or as a useful tool is yet to be known.
Amazon’s drones will have the ability to communicate with each other regarding environmental factors that could affect a flight. The filing also elaborates how the UAV will utilize radar, sonar, camera, infrared sensors, or other components to help in emergency landings.
Customers will be able to give different locations as package destinations, enabling more flexibility regarding where to receive items depending upon their schedule or requirements at the exact time of delivery.
The drones will constantly look out for humans and animals that may be in the route or planned route of the UAV and alter the navigation of the UAV to avoid bumping into them. Though the UAV’s will operate autonomously, pilots may be used to assist in the landing of the devices. This landing data can then be saved to completely automate the delivery next time.
The suitable UAV will be selected based on the shape and weight of the product as well as the delivery location implying that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is planning to deploy a variety of types and sizes of drones.
