U.S. retail giant Walmart has applied to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office to patent a blockchain system for deliveries, according to an official patent document released August 30.The new patent aims to provide a technology for running "In-field authenticating of autonomous electronic devices" to enable secure deliveries.
The patent specifies that "[i]n exemplary embodiments, two autonomous electronic devices, such as delivery drones or household autonomous robots, can authenticate each other using embodiments of security procedures described herein.
The patent is entitled "Systems, Devices, and Methods for In-Field Authenticating of Autonomous Robots" and was filed in January 2018 by Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The document describes a system of operating multiple robots or drones that conduct package deliveries all across the supply chain.
The machines are intended to operate based on wireless signals that enable blockchain-powered secure authentication of electronic devices' identities.
"Updates to the blockchain may comprise authentication signals or identification information, and one or more nodes on the system may be configured to incorporate one or more updates into blocks to add to the distributed database."
Walmart has applied for a number of blockchain-related patents in the U.S. in the past year.
According to Investopedia, blockchain technology enhancement is mainly being used by the retailed in order to "Help Walmart keep pace with its rivals," such as Amazon.
Recently, Walmart applied for a patent on systems and methods for managing smart appliances via blockchain.
The tech would allow users to customize levels of access and control for appliances such as portable computing devices.
In mid-July, the retail giant patented the technology for a blockchain-powered delivery management system that can keep delivered items safe until their purchasers are able to sign for and collect them.
Walmart's Latest Blockchain Patent Lets Robots Conduct Deliveries Across Supply Chain
Published on Sep 1, 2018
by Cointele | Published on Coinage
Coinage
Recent News
View All
Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin's Run, Uniswap's Hemorrhaging Value, Anchorage's Banking Bid
Bitcoin is nearing all-time highs in price and market cap last set three years ago.
Japan's megabanks to lead experiment with digital yen
We have, in order, Cheese Bank with a $3.3 million theft, Akropolis with its $2 million loss, Value DeFi with a whopping $6 million exploit and finally Origin Protocol's loss of $7 million.
Number of new Bitcoin addresses spikes amid growing FOMO
Japan's three largest banks, as part of a group of 30 private sector actors, are set to collaborate on an experiment with a digital yen.
Not just Wall Street: Quant trader explains why Bitcoin price is going up
Sam Trabucco, a quantitative trader at Alameda Research, believes four general factors are pushing up the price of Bitcoin.