Walmart uses blockchain technology to track drone deliveries and is applying for a patent

Walmart has filed a patent application that seeks to use blockchain technology to track delivery drones.

The patent application, titled “Secure Positioning for Drone Delivery,” was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May 25 and seeks to apply blockchain technology to track shipments.

The patent application document states:

In some embodiments, the delivery box may also include a delivery encryption system that includes a blockchain for tracking and verification of shipments. Shipment tracking via blockchain may include elements such as location, supply chain transitions, courier and customer authentication, ambient temperature of the container, product temperature (if applicable), acceptable thresholds for ambient product temperature, cargo contents (product or merchandise) in the container system, or a combination.

The patent application leaked a schematic of Walmart's drone system.

Another section of the application also states:

In certain embodiments, the blockchain associated with the contents placed in the drop box is tuned to the cold chain status of a product to deliver the drop box. The product in the process will have a blockchain identifier, and when the product identifier is scanned, the drop box will receive and process the product specific information. The drop box 1, or more specifically a computer processor, will then retrieve specific processing information (temperature, etc.) from the blockchain for the product or from a central server that will provide information blocks related to the specific processing of the product.

Walmart and blockchain technology

This is Walmart’s latest move in the blockchain field.

Last October, Walmart partnered with multinational technology group IBM to put Chinese pork products on the blockchain to ensure consumer confidence in the food industry. This is done in the hope that food accidents that have occurred in China, such as the melamine milk powder incident in 2008, can be prevented.

In addition, last November, Walmart revealed that they are conducting a trial using blockchain technology to track food safety. Walmart hopes to be able to determine that using blockchain technology can enable them to obtain the information they need, such as supplier information, the origin of the food, and who tested the food. If an accident occurs, they will be able to determine the source of the food and effectively eliminate the unqualified batches of food.

The move to use blockchain technology to track delivery drones further demonstrates the company’s enthusiasm for embracing blockchain technology.