In the latest of its far-flung experiments into delivery, Amazon has applied for a patent for delivering packages on public transit, i.e. buses, subways and trains.
Todd Bishop of GeekWire, which first reported the news, described the system as "essentially an Amazon Locker on wheels, installed inside or attached to the outside of a bus, train or other form of transit."
In its patent application, Amazon notes that customers may choose to have an item delivered while they are riding a public bus, "which the user takes every day travelling from the office to home." Another option is to pick up a package at a bus stop at a set time.
"Also, in regions where carriers for delivering items are rare or prohibitively expensive, a mobile pickup location may be utilized to deliver items, such as to a rural village," Amazon wrote.
The patent also notes that coordinates of a mobile pickup location may be tracked with GPS. The customer could be informed of the location via text message when the ordered item is approaching.
Amazon explains that the option offers more flexibility beyond home/office delivery and standard pickup locations.
Source: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
"Some customers may not live or work near pickup locations, or may otherwise not want to take the time to travel to one," Amazon wrote. "In addition, some customers may live and work in regions where there are few or no carriers for delivering packages, thus complicating the delivery of items to any destinations near the customer."
The document, labeled "Mobile Pickup Locations," was initially filed in February 2014 and issued and made public by the patent office on Aug. 14.
While providing an option for rural areas with less regular delivery schedules, the system could also work for city dwellers unable to be present to receive a package.
"The strategy makes the whole system aligned with a customer's day-to-day habits, without having them ... deviate from their normal routine," wrote Martin Blanc for Bidness Etc.
The "Mobile Pickup Locations" comes in addition to Amazon's delivery experimentations with drones, crowdsourcing, bike messengers, as well as Amazon Lockers.
- Mobile Pickup Locations - U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- Amazon envisions package pickups on public transit, using lockers on buses, trains and subways - GeekWire
- Amazon Looks To Mass Transit For Package Pickup - Payments.com
- Amazon.com, Inc. Could Deliver Packages To Customers On Buses, Trains And Subways - Bidness Etc
- Mobile Pickup Locations Patent - Justia