Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Amazon Files Patent For Mobile 3D Printing Delivery Trucks

Posted by Soulskill on from the get-your-almost-functional-lego-replica-in-30-minutes-or-it's-free dept.

ErnieKey writes: Amazon has been inching its way into the 3D printing space over the past 10 months or so. This week, however, the U.S. Patent office published a filing by Amazon for mobile 3D printing delivery trucks. The trucks would have 3D printers and CNC machines on board and be able to communicate with a central hub. When a product is ordered, the mobile 3D printing truck that's closest to the consumer's home or office would then get the order, print it, and deliver it as soon as possible.

10 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. What's the market here? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I really don't get it. With all the 3D hype, I've never seen anyone in the street or personally talk about or have a 3D printed object.

    What are people doing that it requires such a massive infrastructure?

    Last I heard, it was only Luddites that had factories or delivery trucks, we were going to 3D print everything at home, including the home itself?

    1. Re:What's the market here? by jythie · · Score: 2

      Yeah, but how many people on the street do you encounter that talk about making wood furniture at home? While the hype is a bit much, 3D printers are mostly exciting to the same types of people who in the past would have a woodshop in their garage or similar hobby setup.

  2. New patent strategy by almitydave · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So Amazon just patented 3-D printing... ON A TRUCK? What other existing technologies can we add "on a truck" to to create a novel invention?

    --
    my, your, his/her/its, our, your, their
    I'm, you're, he's/she's/it's, we're, you're, they're
    1. Re:New patent strategy by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2

      Not just 'on a truck' you unenlightened fool.

      It's 3D PRINTED on a truck.

      Now, that's progress. You thought we were getting flying cars. Nope, we get printed plastic forks.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:New patent strategy by penguinoid · · Score: 2

      How about a method for producing food... ON A TRUCK! Sure it may have some prior art, but that seldom stops a patent nowadays because just about everything has prior art.

      And while we're on the topic... if we can add "on a computer", "on the internet", or "on a truck" to make a new patent, how about "in a building"?

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    3. Re:New patent strategy by Thud457 · · Score: 2

      new patent = (existing process) x ["with a computer" | "on the internet" | "with a 3D printer" | "in a box" | "with a fox" | "via drone" | "in virtual reality" | "with methane micro-lasers" | "in an app" | "with more cowbell" | "with an AI" | "dipped in liquid nitrogen" | "using fiber optics" | "facilitated by nanobots" | "using MEMS" | "meme enhanced"]

      --

      the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  3. Why Mobile? by jythie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I am not really understanding what the point of making the fabrication itself mobile, other than not having to pay rent on dedicated facilities. They would still have to have some kind of depot for the raw materials, so why have all the extra weight of driving around the equipment? Esp since you could not print while driving since that would really screw up the accuracy.

  4. Really? by Registered+Coward+v2 · · Score: 2

    There is plenty of prior art. Mobile sintering machines that get emailed instructions on how to fabricate a part have been in use for quite a few years. Get the instructions, make a part via sintered printing, machine it to final specs. The US military uses them to fabricate parts by deployed troops, who can haul the machine around in a deuce and a half, or whatever they call a truck nowadays.

    --
    I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
  5. So stupid ... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This isn't an invention, it's a frickin' business model.

    People have been driving around in trucks for decades making stuff on location -- think welders and machinists. People have been dispatched to drive around and make stuff for decades.

    But somehow you can get a fucking patent for "a system and methodology of placing one or more existing technologies in a truck and dispatching using existing technologies".

    If the patent office approves this, they should be lit on fire, dipped in shit, shot and then fired.

    OMG, we're going to use the intertubes to cause trucks to use existing technologies and then deliver it to you. Seriously?

    I know people who work as ferriers (you know, the guys who shoe horses). And largely, this is what they do.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  6. what's the point? it can't work by swschrad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    how fast is 3D printing? slow as death by clean living. so that's one notch in the handle.

    can you 3D print in a moving truck? the platform and system have to be stable like a $6000 turntable. notch 2.

    is a 3D print product pretty? flexible? neon colors, black, and white are what you have, assuming you are not slinging molten metal or concrete, the other two mediums in use. not flexible. notch 3, fashionistas in revolt.

    so far, it looks like three strikes and Amazon is out. they spend more time on slick PR releases than thought there.

    --
    if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?