Aircraft and defense systems manufacturer Boeing was granted a patent this week for a system to recharge drones in mid-air. Our friends at PatentYogi explain how it works in the video above.
The patent, awarded to inventors James Childress and John Viniotis, describes the use of drones equipped with tethers that can connect with ground-based power supplies while they’re still airborne, to recharge their batteries on the go.
This could make it easier for ecommerce and logistics companies to deliver goods using drones, without having to worry about their aircraft running out of power on a run.
Of course, that will require power supplies all over cities — but at least you won’t have to worry about your drone running late with your pizza delivery.
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Read next: Verizon and NASA are planning to use cell towers for tracking drones
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