Walmart’s patent resembles one filed by Amazon ( NASDAQ: AMZN) last year. “So, the AGV could travel all the way to the gate, and the UAV can then grab the package and deliver it to the residence.” ![]() “For example, the AGV might get stuck at the gate in front of a customer’s residence,” the patent suggested. Then, the drone would launch from the top of the robot, secure the package from the robot’s storage area using a grabbing mechanism, and travel to the customer’s location to make the drop-off. In any of these cases, the system would automatically attempt to calculate a new delivery route for the robot, creating one for the drone if no alternative exists. Related: Read: Walmart kicks fulfillment into high gear with next-generation centers Read: Walmart and DroneUp expanding drone delivery to 6 states, 4 million people Those include situations in which the AGV is stopped and does not have enough battery power, the obstacle does not move within a given amount of time, the system cannot find an alternative ground-based route, or the AGV will not arrive by the scheduled delivery time. When those sensors determine that the AGV has been stopped by an obstacle, in certain cases, a drone mounted on top of the robot will fly the rest of the route. The robots would be equipped with one or more sensors - the patent mentions laser, ultrasound, optical and infrared sensors as potential options. And some we test, iterate and learn from,” Walmart said in an email statement to Modern Shipper. Some ideas become products or services that make it to customers. “We’re continuously exploring how emerging technologies may shape future shopping experiences and are testing new ideas all the time. But if they run into any obstacles, they would automatically release a drone to complete the delivery. Under the proposal, Walmart would use automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that follow a predetermined route. Patent and Trademark Office, describes a solution that combines driverless technology with delivery drones and robots. The patent, filed last week with the U.S. A new patent, though, seeks to combine all three. Already, the company has experimented with solutions like drone delivery, food delivery robots and fully autonomous box trucks. ![]() Walmart ( NYSE: WMT) has a war chest of institutional funding at its disposal, and its massive scale allows it to spend that money on any number of speculative ventures without undertaking potentially disastrous risk. But being the biggest seller on the planet also comes with a few perks. ![]() When you’re the world’s largest retailer, customers expect a premium delivery experience - without paying a premium.
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