July 19, 2021

Amazon recently applied for a patent application titled “Directing Secondary Delivery Vehicles Using Primary Delivery Vehicles.”

This vision from the tech giant involves primary vehicles with cameras or other sensors generating and transmitting instructions so that secondary vehicles, such as personal delivery devices, can drive at selected distances and speeds.

Essentially, a typical Amazon truck rolls down the street and stops somewhere. Then its rear door opens and out roll many small robotic cars that carry packages, each with its own destination.

Once all deliveries have been made, the small robotic cars will return to the mothership and be on their way.

It is fair to say that this neighbourhood bustle may theoretically be a good idea – but it is ultimately a painful intrusion into the lives of consumers, not just Amazon shoppers.

For more information, read the original story in ZDNet.