IBM Preventing Drone Theft
International Banking Machines, or more commonly known as IBM, acquired approval over their patent. This patent allows for IBM to implement new technologies that will prevent the anonymous theft of drones. This will be accomplished with an IoT Altimeter, which will trigger once lifted off the ground and track the consumer’s package. This data will be provided through a blockchain platform, showcasing the altitude and estimated delivery time for all products.
IBM’s new patent looks to pre-expletively account for modern realities in metropolis cities, such as individuals purchasing products or groceries via online retailers. Since IBM is primarily a manufacturing company, it’s anticipated that these future drones will be sold to corporations like Amazon or Walmart. The patent itself reads: “The confluence of the increase in drone use and the increase in online shopping provides a situation in which a drone may be used with nefarious intent to anonymously take a package that is left on a doorstep after delivery.”
It should be noted that IBM’s solution will assist with package theft only when a significant change in altitude is made. This extends to when the threshold of drone-altitude laws is broken, where the drone will then be disabled. After drones are disabled, a security mode initiates, and a slow descent begins to a location of the corporation’s choice. However, IBM hasn’t confirmed if they plan to design or manufacturer a prototype for this patented technology.
There is also a chance that this blockchain technology could be retrofitted for another secure database. However, the patent states that blockchain is the preferred embodiment for these drones tracking capabilities. This would be because blockchain is one of the most challenging platforms to intercept, allowing IBM to maintain their trust between entity relationships. This includes the consumer, the shipper and the merchant.
Though it isn’t entirely clear how we can prevent drone heists in the United States, IBM is the first corporation to make the beginning steps towards a solution.