Amazon has received a patent for distribution warehouses that float in the sky.
The “aerial fulfillment centers” (AFCs) would be held aloft by blimps. They are part of a plan to shift more deliveries to drones from ground-based transportation.
“An AFC may be positioned at an altitude above a metropolitan area and be designed to maintain an inventory of items that may be purchased by a user and delivered to the user by a UAV that is deployed from the AFC,” according to a patent document.
As part of the plan, Amazon has patented a system that would reduce the hazard of falling debris in the event of a malfunctioning drone. Additionally, the blimps will float because they contain a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, Amazon said.
The patent, issued in late August, was first reported by MyAJC.
Meanwhile, Walmart on Aug. 30 applied for a patent for a system that allows autonomous electronic devices such as drones to communicate with each other wirelessly. The devices would then be able to transport objects securely using blockchain technology.
About the Author
Fleet Owner Staff
Our Editorial Team
Kevin Jones, Editorial Director, Commercial Vehicle Group
Cristina Commendatore, Executive Editor
Scott Achelpohl, Managing Editor
Josh Fisher, Senior Editor
Catharine Conway, Digital Editor
Eric Van Egeren, Art Director