Walmart Exploring Blockchain Based Delivery Drones

Walmart has applied for yet another patent, showing how invested the retail giant is in exploring all possible options in Blockchain technology that could help improve its business. This new patent is called Systems, Devices and Methods for In-Field Authenticating of Autonomous Robots.

Using Drones for Delivery

In its latest patent filing, published on August 30, Walmart has described a system that will enable autonomous electronic devices (drones) to wirelessly communicate with each other and pass along transported packages to each other after clearing an authentication process.

According to the idea outlined in the patent, one drone will travel to a specific location. This location will be the meeting point for two drones. After the two drones carry out a verification process with the help of Blockchain keys, the first drone can then pass on the package it is carry to the next drone. To enable such a transaction, the drones would need to rely on a vast database of delivery information on the Blockchain that the company is operating.

According to the patent filing, the drones will use multiple signals that will help them identify each other. These signals will include RFID codes, ultrasound or QR codes, etc. Additionally, each drone will be created with unique features so that it will be more easily identified by others.

According to Walmart’s patent filing, the company is hoping to reduce the number of times where elements within the entire delivery process have to be trusted, and using drones to take care of the delivery process could just be the answer.

However, the biggest issue in creating this kind of system will be to ensure the complete security of the packages being delivered. This would mean that the entire system would need to have a really reliable method of identifying each of the drones – and of the drones being able to identify each other.

Walmart and Amazon Competing for a Blockchain Based Future

Walmart, once the leader of all things retail, now faces intense competition from Amazon.com. The online retail giant has beaten Walmart in the e-commerce game, though the brick-and-mortar retailer has now started to turn things around in its e-commerce division.

Now, the two retail behemoths are competing on the e-commerce front. Both Walmart and Amazon have invested heavily in Blockchain technology and it is clear that they both see this new technology as necessary to remain competitive in the global retail market.

This makes sense, since Blockchain technology has the potential to massively reduce costs, streamline the entire shipping and logistics process and increase overall efficiencies.