Walmart files patent for a delivery system that uses drones, lockers and blockchain
US retainer Walmart has submitted a patent for a delivery system which uses drones, automated lockers and blockchain technology. Walmart filed the patent on 23 November last year, and the US Patent and Trademark Office (UPTO) published it on 25 May.
With the delivery model described in the patent, the drone – or the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – will drop off the parcel/payload into an automated locker / delivery box, which will open in response to a message validating the identity of the UAV.
The key advantages of using this sort of automated delivery box, rather than having the drones drop parcels on someone’s front lawn, is that is both safer and more secure.
The patent also includes references to using blockchain technology for extra security and to track shipments that are fragile or temperature sensitive.
