New drone concept delivers straight into your hands

DelivAir uses the GPS on a person’s smartphone to pinpoint their location, with the drone receiving updates in flight to track if someone is on the move. Once within visual range, the drone switches to precision optical tracking and a 3D imaging and ranging system to locate and authenticate the recipient, who also receives an alert that the delivery is imminent.

As the drone hovers directly above, the LED flash on the customer’s smartphone sends a coded message to verify identity. The package is then lowered into the recipient’s hands, using a stabilising winch to keep it steady. Once in the customer’s hands, the package is unhitched by the recipient and the drone returns to its base.

“Drone delivery is fast and ideal for something that is needed immediately. In that case, a consumer wants a delivery directly to them as a person – not to a location,” said Nathan Wrench, head of the industrial and energy business at Cambridge Consultants.