[2018-09-04] Walmart Explores Blockchain for Connecting Automated Delivery Drone

[ivanpoldark]

Walmart's recent patent efforts have showcased how the retail giant is investigating blockchain, and a new filing points to a focus on autonomous delivery drones.

The application was published on August 30, detailing a system by which "autonomous electronic devices" communicate with each other wirelessly and pass transported objects to each other after an identification process.

After one drone travels to a specific spot where another one is located, they exchange authentication signals using "blockchain keys," and if the first robot successfully recognizes its "co-worker," it passes it the package. Drones would rely on a database of delivery information stored on whichever blockchain the company is operating.

To identify each other, robots use can use a variety means to actually send signals from one to the other, including RFID codes, QR codes or ultrasound, the patent filing says.

Read more: https://www.coindesk.com/walmart-explores-blockchain-for-connecting-automated-delivery-drones/

[yugyug]

This is a new beginning to regain Walmart store back to the retail scene as all of the major retail stores like Walmart and Sears are all fucked up by Amazon through online and e-commerce industry where Mr. Bezos put him to the top biliionaires spot beating mr Buffet and we will hope that this development will make Walmart chain back into life.

[Theb]

If they successfully registered the patent under their company I wonder how they will use it, will they become innovators and fight head on to a new industry or will they just sell it to a bigger fish like Amazon? Because from what I know Jeff Bezos already is planning to launch a drone delivery system in the USA sometime next year and this patent might actually block their progress. In the world of Patent claims this is not a new strategy and Walmart might be using this as some kind of leverage to another company especially we know their business is greatly affected by the e-commerce giant.