For years now, Amazon has been exploring possibilities that could help it implement drones for e-commerce deliveries—to further this vision, the company wants to transform city infrastructure into drone landing stations.
A patent recently filed by Amazon introduces a concept that could potentially transform vertical standing structures like church steeples, street lights, power poles and cell phone towers into places for drones to temporarily land. Amazon's patent describes that these docking stations could be used to extend the lengths of journeys that these UAVs could fly, provide shelter during poor flying conditions and serve as a place for the devices to refuel.
While there are many regulations currently in place that prevent drones from being used for a number of commercial purposes, Amazon is positioning itself as a future leader in drone delivery solutions.
Drone-Docking Streetlamps
This Amazon Patent Envisions Streetlights as Drone Landing Stations
Trend Themes
1. Drone Landing Stations - The use of existing city infrastructure as drone docking stations presents opportunities for innovative partnerships between municipalities and companies.
2. Extended Drone Range - Enabling drones to make use of docking stations for longer journeys and refueling capabilities could potentially open up new markets for e-commerce delivery companies.
3. Vertical Standing Structure Innovations - The concept of using power poles, cell phone towers, and other structures as drone landing platforms could lead to new design and engineering innovations in the construction industry.
Industry Implications
1. E-commerce - The introduction of drone docking stations could help e-commerce companies improve their logistics and delivery capabilities, and reduce costs associated with last-mile delivery.
2. Municipal Services - Cities and municipalities could explore opportunities to partner with drone delivery companies to enhance their emergency response capabilities, such as delivering medical supplies to remote areas or during natural disasters.
3. Telecommunications - Companies in the telecommunications industry could potentially explore partnerships with drone delivery companies to provide extended coverage by using their existing network of cell phone towers as landing platforms for drones.