“We're
talking about principles of Package delivery systems that have been around
since the time of King Arthur. That guy knew something about keeping precious
cargo safe.”
Groupon's SVP of
innovations, Everett Weiss on Groupon’s response in a YouTube Video to Amazon
PrimeAir to use Catapults
Groupon
has come out of their corner swinging with a humorous response to Amazon’s plan
to deliver Packages to Amazon Prime subscribers within 30 minutes using their
own Drone fleet, PrimeAir. Their answer, which involves the use Catapults as
noted in the article “Groupon's
brilliant response to Amazon's Drones: Catapults”,
published December 11, 2013 10:56 AM PST by Chris Matyszczyk, CNET News,
albeit meant in jest, can actually be practically implemented, as this article
will attempt to demonstrate.
Amazon
has plans to launch their DronePackage delivery service PrimeAir sometime in
the next five (5) years, FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) regulations
permitting as explained in my blog
article entitled “Amazon plans to launch Amazon
PrimeAir, their 30 minute DronePackage Delivery Service for Amazon Prime users
- Playing Catch-up as Mailpak launches DealBug in Jamaica”.
Not to be outdone, UPS and FedEx,
but big guns in the Package delivery service, plan to also have their own Drone
delivery fleet, most likely to ferry Packages in-between their various Package
Distribution Centers more cost-effectively as argued in my
blog
article entitled “UPS
and FedEx developing their Own Delivery Drones to compete with Amazon PrimeAir
- Premium Rush Package Delivery Drones herald the coming of Google's Personal
Androids that are Almost Human”.
So how would Groupon’s idea work,
assuming it wasn’t a joke and it could be practically implemented? Using
technology that’s no different than what’s already in use by NASA (National
Aeronautical Space Administration)!
How it could work is quite simple.
Instead of firing the Package via a real Catapult, Groupon would have to develop
small cannon that are designed to be calibrated to launch Packages at a certain
angle and velocity to reach the target.
Groupon’s
NOC (Network Operation Center) would house their Automated Catapult System that would control the Catapult and
receiving real-time TelemetryData from the Package mid-flight. Groupon would
also have installed an array of Digital Barometers, Anemometer and Rain Gauges
that would be deployed through the area surrounding Groupon’s Delivery area
around its Package Distribution Centers to communicate Real-time weather Data
to Groupon’s NOC where the Automated Catapult System is housed.
Such an Automated
Catapult Systemmatches
the intent of Amazon PrimeAir, which would require that the Package have
electronics built into it as well as a system designed to cushion the fall. This
Fall Prevention Technology is similar to CEO Jeff Bezos earlier idea of an
airbag for cellphones as stated in my blog
article entitled “Amazon
patents Fall Prevention Technology for smartphones and Tablets - The Research
begins with Amazon’s patent that’s Hyde Park on Hudson (2013)”.
The
process of delivery via Catapult would work as follows. A Customer on Groupon’s
website would order their Package via the Internet on their Laptop, smartphone
or Tablet. At the point of ordering, they’d specify where they want to deliver
the Package, keeping in mind the main criteria, that being that the delivery
zone has to be somewhere theCustomer is standing or where they actually live
and their delivery area must be outside. Also, once ordered, they cannot reject
the delivery mid-flight; that they could only do once the package has landed!
To
ensure a safe delivery, based on the GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) on the
Tablet or smartphone, the Automated Catapult Systemhas to log a flight plan for
the Package with the FAA for their approval. Obstacles in the flight path
during the logging of the flight plan can be determined via a combination of
the GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) on the Tablet or smartphone combined
with Google Maps Data.
The
item to be delivered would be placed inside of a Capsule made of an
aerodynamically cushioned material that’s waterproof and can protect breakable
cargo if it fell from a 20 story vertical drop. The Capsule would have a Microcontroller
computer that would have the following sensors:
1. GPS
2. Altimeter
3. Accelerometer
4. Magnetometer
or Gyroscope
5. Barometer
6. Proximity
Sensor
7. Cameras
This
Microcontroller Package on the Capsulewould communicate TelemetryData via 4G
LTE (Long Term Evolution) or via a local Telecom Provider’s GSM (Global System
Mobile) EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) Data Network back to Groupon’s
NOC to their Automated Catapult System.
This
microcontroller Package would not only communicate TelemetryData back to the
Automated Catapult System but it would also allow for mid-flight corrections
using a combination of mini parachutes or small jets built onto the Capsule.
The Automated Catapult System would calculate the flight path and launch the Capsule
with the Package inside based on its weight.
The
Automated Capsule System would also use real-time Weather Data supplied by a
Network of remotely connected array
of Barometers, Anemometer and Rain Gauges that would communicate Real-time
weather Data to the Automated Capsule System and relay that info to the Capsule’s
onboard Microcontroller.
Groupon’s Automated Capsule System – That Ominous Whistling
Sound is your Delivery en Route
Once the Package is launched an airborneen route, Groupon would advise the Customer
of the TOF (Time of Flight) and given an ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival), which
should be a matter of minutes. The Customer would also be advised not to move
but to stay perfectly still as at TOF, the Package would have been launched and
be in flight.
The Customer’s smartphone or Tablet
would also alert them that the Package is on its way and tell them what
direction to look in order to visually confirm its arrival. In addition to all
this, the Capsule will be fitter with an audible whistle as well as a proximity
alert whistle that would send the whistle ton to the Customer smartphone or
tablet advising them that the Capsule is close to making a landing.
As the Package is in flight,
mid-course corrections are made using small jets located on the outside of the Capsule
to make sure it’s heading towards the Customer and will land at least within a
5 meter square area around the Customer. Once close enough to the Customer, the
Capsule will deploy a special braking parachute to reduce its velocity. No
different from how NASA would deliver a Robotic payload on Mars!
Once within visual range of the Capsule,
based on the Capsule’s onboard GPS and proximity sensors it’ll eventually
deploy a parachute to gently guide the parachute towards the Customer or where
they live, using adjustments to the parachute as well as small jets to nail the
landing in the designated drop zone without a hard impact.
Groupon’s Silly response has Wings – Catapult alternative to
Package Delivery
Albeit Groupon’s response was done
as a gag, it does have serious application in real life, if not in Package
delivery as the FAA may not approve of what’s effectively launching a missile.
But launching a Package this way is no different from launching a Drone, as Drones
are usually launched from Aircraft Carriers using a Catapult.
This is basically the same idea of a
Drone, just that instead of being able to fly on its own power, it’s being
given the energy to fly via being launched by a large cannon or Catapult. It
merely makes mid-flight corrections in order to safely reach its target, with
the option to then glide to Customers house on final approach or land if the
onboard sensors detect that it can make a splashdown in water i.e. the Customer’s
swimming pool or in a body of water.
This method of delivery would be
suitable for long range rapid transit deliveries outside of a 10km range and
would make deliveries to persons living in remote towns up to 100 km away
feasible. Best of all, once the Package makes its delivery and the Customer is
satisfied that their Package within the Capsule suffered no damage during delivery;
the Customer can send it back via the use of a RMA (Return Mailing Address)
Sticker.
The Customerwould place the RMA Sticker onto the Capsule and have mailed back via UPS or FedEx to Groupon’s Headquarters for Testing……and relaunch.
The Customerwould place the RMA Sticker onto the Capsule and have mailed back via UPS or FedEx to Groupon’s Headquarters for Testing……and relaunch.
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