Amazon's next goal - revolutionizing delivery with drones
In December of 2016 Amazon delivered their first package with a drone in the United Kingdom. Since then, lots has happened in their attempts to revolutionize delivery. Amazon believes that drones could more efficiently deliver the astonishing 1.6 million Amazon packages per day that humans are currently delivering. Food for thought, BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, estimates that Amazon spent approximately $5.75 on shipping per package in 2016. With drones - the shipping could be reduced to $1 per shipment. Their drone technology is ready for deliveries but the question remains, where will these drones take off from?
Well, one idea is an airborne warehouse 45,000 feet in the air that just floats around the city. Like a blimp that is stocked with drones. Amazon actually got this patent approved in April of 2016 and imagines a baby blimp to transport the drones to the papa blimp 8 miles in the sky. Drones only have about 30 minutes of battery so that's why the baby blimp is even in the picture.
Another idea is Amazon could have the drone "airport" be their warehouses, however, those are all on the outskirts of cities, which causes inefficiency that Amazon can't stand! So, Amazon brainstormed massive beehive structures that act as a hub for drones. Think of it as a distribution facility, but in the shape of a beehive.
The patent that was filed in December 2015 details several drawings of the buildings, as well as an area where customers can come pick up their package and vehicles can load up. The facilities would be built vertically to blend in with high rises in the city.
While most patent ideas never get executed we do know one thing... Amazon wants to figure out a way to deliver their packages cheaper. In a race with Apple to be the first trillion dollar company Amazon will get what it wants.
Which method do you think would be more effective to facilitate delivery? Do you think you have a better idea? The best response will get upvoted from us!