It's no secret that Amazon's been pursuing the delivery-by-drone method for a while now, but now we have a better idea about the next step in the evolution of that plan thanks to a new patent the mega-company received.
SEE ALSO:Drones that pass packages to each other could be the future of home deliveryAs flagged by GeekWire, Amazon has received a patent for a shipping label with a parachute built in, intended for "packages to be dropped from the aerial vehicle, yet land at the package's destination without damage."
Amazon's nifty package parachuteCredit: US Patent/trademark officeThe parachute would be built in as part of the shipping label but done so using a harness or other method that keeps the cords of the parachute from getting tangled, screwing up the parachute, and sending your latest Precious Moments figurine purchase crashing to the ground.
According to the patent, the parachute could be made from any number of materials, including paper, canvas, silk, nylon, or a combination.
The execution of the plan is simple: the drone launches with the package, flies to its location, confirms its location (via GPS, cell location, or even an onboard camera), drops the package to the ground safely, and then flies away.
Video or other sensors like radar can confirm the successful deployment of the parachuted package.
Here comes your package! Plop!Credit: US Patent/Trademark officeThere are still plenty of things to take into consideration, too, like the weight of the package and rate of descent. Other issues include the exact location of delivery. Can a drone safely maneuver its way to your front porch like a UPS driver or will it be plopped in your yard where it's exposed to the elements, from rain to the neighbor's dog?
The patent does note that if the package winds up, say, on your roof or in a tree, the drone will be able to communicate with a control center to let them know. Perhaps a push notification of hey, the package is stuck in a tree, whoops, my bad.
If you're into that sort of thing, the entire patent goes into more detail about the materials that could be used, how the parachute would fit into the label, and all kinds of other possibilities. MAGIC POSSIBILITIES.
TopicsAmazonDrones
(责任编辑：時尚)
Nancy Pelosi warns colleagues after info hackedWhite House tweets about Martin Luther King Jr. aren't going over wellTaylor Swift sang for one *very* lucky couple's engagement partyAlexa in space? Why freeThis chart shows just how high Simone Biles can jumpOlympics official on Rio's green diving pool: 'Chemistry is not an exact science'
The diving pool for the Summer Olympics mysteriously turned green this week in Rio de Janeiro, then
...[详细]Snapchat might change its most iconic feature
Forget everything you thought you knew about Snapchat.The disappearing messaging app might soon be h
...[详细]Twitter suspends account linked to boosting MAGA teens controversy
Twitter has suspended an account which was linked to the magnification of a confrontation between hi
...[详细]Ben Affleck hands over his cape to a new Batman
Ben Affleck is handing over his cape to a new Batman.According to Deadline, Warner Bros. will releas
...[详细]Airbnb activates disaster response site for Louisiana flooding
Airbnb has activated its disaster response page following the record-breaking flooding in Louisiana.
...[详细]Instacart ends its shady tipping policy after worker and user outrage
Internet outrage might feel tiresome sometimes, but it can also be a force for good. The grocery and
...[详细]'The Haunting of Hill House' renewed as anthology at Netflix
Netflix has conjured up a second season of last fall's buzzy, spooky drama The Haunting of Hill Hous
...[详细]29Rooms: Can an Instagram museum convince you to put away your phone?
I got so up close and personal with a fake rock wall at Refinery29's experiential pop-up, 29Rooms, t
...[详细]Olympian celebrates by ordering an intimidating amount of McDonald's
It's no secret that Olympians have to eat clean for years to ensure they're at peak physical conditi
...[详细]Huawei Nova 4 will have 'hole punch' selfie camera instead of notch
Essential birthed the notch with the PH-1 and Apple popularized it with the iPhone X, but Asia's big
...[详细]Airbnb activates disaster response site for Louisiana flooding
What's coming to Netflix in February 2019