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Amazon Is Working On Hot Air Balloon Drone That Approaches Homes Silently (slashgear.com)
Amazon has been granted a patent that describes an "unmanned aerial vehicle with inflatable membrane" that would allow it to approach homes silently. The UAV "would have a balloon hidden inside the chasis," reports Slashgear. "That could be inflated using compressed gas, via a tank or chamber also carried on the drone. When the UAV roamed into an area where noise levels needed to be cut -- such as the delivery location, Amazon suggests -- the balloon could be inflated." From the report: In the process it would mean that the traditional drone propellers would have less work to do, since the UAV's buoyancy would be taken care of by the balloon. All the motors would be required for is general positioning. Amazon doesn't envisage flying the drone like a miniature zeppelin, however. Instead, the balloon system would be used to raise and lower the UAV to and from the delivery location. In that way it could help reduce the noise -- and energy -- involved in achieving a cruising altitude, whereupon the balloon would be deflated and gathered back into its dock.
The drone would proceed to the delivery destination, and then the balloon would be reinflated. That could be used to then gently lower the aircraft to the ground, to leave behind its package. Of course, having an inflating balloon near a system of fast-spinning propellers seems like a recipe for disaster, and so part of Amazon's patent outlines the retracting mechanism by which the two elements would be kept apart. The whole thing would be handled by an onboard autopilot, with the balloon reeled back into the storage area. The drone could either return the gas used for inflation to the compression chamber, or allow it to escape. Indeed, another possibility that Amazon suggests is a completely detachable balloon. That, the patent describes, might then float away, or biodegrade, rather than being reused.
The drone would proceed to the delivery destination, and then the balloon would be reinflated. That could be used to then gently lower the aircraft to the ground, to leave behind its package. Of course, having an inflating balloon near a system of fast-spinning propellers seems like a recipe for disaster, and so part of Amazon's patent outlines the retracting mechanism by which the two elements would be kept apart. The whole thing would be handled by an onboard autopilot, with the balloon reeled back into the storage area. The drone could either return the gas used for inflation to the compression chamber, or allow it to escape. Indeed, another possibility that Amazon suggests is a completely detachable balloon. That, the patent describes, might then float away, or biodegrade, rather than being reused.
Bezos, come on, don't be a creeper.
An interesting bit of trivia but why is this news? Companies like Amazon files thousands of patents annually. Most of them never make it into production. It doesn't mean they are "working" on it at all. In fact the idea seems largely impractical on many levels and is probably more defensive than real.
Ya, you'll find knockoffs in a a week,,,
[($)]
The machine gun is only for non Amazon Prime members.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
They're getting all ready for their Ninja Express Deliveries. They can do in-home deliveries without ever being seen by the cameras. Great for those special deliveries that you don't want the neighbors to know anything about.
If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?
(n/t)
These people have too much money to play with ideas which are not really scalable and have a ton of issues which are not fixable. For example, wind. Airships and blimps had massive issues in the past. To use hot air does not remove these issues instead it is increasing them, as you need an even bigger balloon to lift the same mass and you need to constantly heat the shit up. It makes more sense to extend the capacity of mass transit in cities to be able to use it for the transport of goods. In a multi-modal transport setup, this is much more efficient. Yes, this means less cars in cities.
... a compressed gas chamber configured to contain a gas that is lighter than air; an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with gas from the compressed gas chamber; ...
this is obviously not a hot air baloon
Their new slogan,
Sure Jeff will have a patent somewhere that deals with them drones turning into a fireworks show occasionally...
A cubic meter of air at standard atmospheric conditions (0C, 1ATM) has a mass of 1.3Kg. If you had a perfect vacuum and somehow the walls were negligible yet able to stand that pressure, a balloon 1 meter in each side would only be able to carry a handful of tubes of toothpaste which are about 0.2Kg each, yet the craft would be the size of a doorway.
Forget the pie-in-the-sky delivery drones. Amazon needs to hire better drivers and more of them. Their drivers don't seem to be in any kind of hurry. I'd be happy if they'd hire drivers who could read! Right now I would rank them just a tad below FedEx drivers, but nowhere near as good as UPS drivers.
All delivery drones (of any kind) will do is make it easier for porch pirates to know which houses are getting the deliveries. Arrrr, matey, follow that drone!
it's just one of many patents, until i actually see this drone in action, i consider this patent to be nothing more then a bag of hot air.
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
Hindenburg did that years ago
Tom Swift did it all around 1912. http://tomswiftaeroship.blogsp...
Fiat Lux.
...is one kid with a BB gun or a slingshot, and BAM your delivery is pwn3d. Thank God for Amazon lockers and UPS store deliveries.
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== WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
Can someone get a patent on something invented over a hundred years ago? This is ridiculous.
Runs off to file patent for wheels.
Hopefully they won't be using helium and then releasing that into the atmosphere since it is becoming rare.
Have gnu, will travel.
It sounds so ... sinister when you put it that way ....
The machine gun is only for non Amazon Prime members.
Amazon Prime members will have access to control the drones that have Primed weapons.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
All this stuff to deliver my $5 USB cable ???
Sure it's delivering $5 cable, but it might notice your lawn isn't very green, so suggest fertilizer. It can see you having sex in your bedroom so might suggest curtains on sale. Peaking in through your windows it might see a Roku box and suggest you "upgrade" to the latest Fire Stick instead.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
"In fact the idea seems largely impractical on many levels..."
Mod parent up.
Would you allow aircraft in your neighborhood? Drones can be DANGEROUS!
Depends upon how large the item is that this balloon carries. However, if something goes wrong it could be a real stinker.
Where are they going to find enough politicians to power the fleet?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/m...
News flash: China hacks Amazon air squadrons in unprovoked attack on major American cities, millions killed.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Would be proud.
In GOD we trust, all others we monitor.