Amazon FLYING warehouse could soon mean drones hovering over YOUR house
HOME delivery from Amazon drones moves a step closer after patent reveals plans for incredible floating warehouse project.
Amazon's drones could soon be a common presence in UK skies
Amazon's drone delivery program could be about to take a major step forward, according to new plans revealed by the company.
The online shopping giant, which has been testing unmanned delivery for several months, is also looking into the development of huge flying airships.
These would act as warehouses for delivery items, according to a patent filing uncovered by CNBC.
Amazon and UK government to partner on delivery drone tests
The patent revealed that Amazon's "airborne fulfilment centre' (AFC) would float above major urban areas at a height of around 45,000 feet, far above the range of current commercial air traffic.
The centre would be stocked with Amazon products, which when ordered would then be delivered directly to the customers via drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
This method would use little power, Amazon says, as the UAV would glide down from the AFC.
"When the UAV departs the AFC, it may descend from the high altitude of the AFC using little or no power other than to guide the UAV towards its delivery destination and/or to stabilise the UAV as it descends," the patent filing explains.
The Amazon drone centre would float far above metropolitan areas
The patent was first filed back in 2014, but was only granted earlier in April this year, meaning it could still be some time before we see Amazon's AFC in action.
However the company has detailed several potential use cases for the technology in the patent filing.
This includes at a sports match where customers would want food or merchandise items, which could be stored in a nearby AFC and then quickly sent out by drones after ordering.
Amazon says this whole process could take a matter of minutes.
Amazon successfully tested drone delivery in the UK earlier this year
The drones themselves would be able to power up within the AFC, which in turn would never land, but instead be refuelled by some kind of shuttle.
The AFC would also allow other kinds of aircraft to dock and load up, and also send workers up for maintenance or restocking.
Amazon has yet to comment on the filing, but any launch would doubtlessly require a lot of regulatory approval before launching.
The news is the latest in a series of advances by the company in unmanned delivery services.
Amazon revealed that it had successfully tested its drone delivery service in the UK earlier this month.
One of the company's aircraft delivered an Amazon Fire TV and some popcorn to a user in Cambridgeshire, dropping off the package directly to their door.
Amazon said that the entire process, from ordering to delivery, took just 13 minutes, and shows that its technology could be used to carry out more orders soon.