Patent Pending: Choosing when to deploy AVs, using drones in intermodal transit


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But while many focus on the hardware and navigation aspects of this emerging innovation, not enough are looking into other aspects of maximizing a delivery route's efficiency using AVs, according to a UPS patent application. Then, it determines deliveries that the drone could reach in the same or a shorter amount of time that a manual vehicle could. “...Alternatively, various manual delivery serviceable points may be pre-selected as autonomous vehicle launch locations." Read up:Drones get an intermodal ride, repairsAmazonVehicles beyond vans and box trucks can be used in tandem with delivery drones if a patent application from Amazon becomes reality. The filing, published Dec. 22, envisions drones launching from in-transit "intermodal carriers" on trains, containerships, trucks or other vehicles.