H2 Clipper (H2C), an aerospace and alternative energy company, has been awarded a US patent for its ‘warehouse in the sky’ that includes the integration of aerial drones to enable pinpoint pick-up and last-mile delivery accuracy for commercial, consumer and humanitarian use.
The technology uses a beacon such as a dedicated device or personal cell phone to enable package delivery by drone for major delivery companies such as Amazon, FedEx, UPS and DHL, particularly in remote locations. Uniquely, the beacon also permits package returns from rural areas and remote global villages to put those items into international commerce.
The technology also has the ability to launch drones from a dirigible, allowing the drones to use all onboard energy to lift heavier packages rather than using that same energy to fly to the drop-off or pickup zone, resulting in efficient use of every route. It also has charging bays for the aerial drones to recharge between short flights, which further reduces package delivery and retrieval time and the number of trips, and an onboard camera to provide proof of delivery.
“With the continued increase in online purchasing, the speed, convenience and cost of local delivery are essential considerations for the supply chain,” said H2C founder and CEO Rinaldo S Brutoco. “By utilizing airships for delivery, shipments can bypass the exceedingly crowded and inefficient port facilities and airports, and eliminate the need for multiple intermodal transfers, handling steps, and ground-based facilities – minimizing delays and reducing costs.”
The US patent focuses on the enhanced aerodynamic characteristics of the improved airship that will enable it to travel at significant speeds, making door-to-door overnight delivery from a few regional warehouses and second-day door-to-door delivery of goods a possibility across the world. According to H2C this ability to rapidly serve end-users directly from the factory or a few large regional distribution centers “will resolve the last-mile challenges and provide a strong competitive advantage”.