IBM has filed for a patent on a Coffee Delivery Drone – and while it’s still in early stages of development (it’s just an idea for now), we’re already excited about the possibilities it suggests.
The concept behind the drone is simple: it will hang around the coffee machine, waiting to be alerted whenever you enter a “predetermined cognitive state”. In other words, it knows when you’re tired and will bring you coffee to perk you up. Amazing, right?
I know what you’re thinking: How does it know you’re tired?
Simple: By testing your blood pressure, pupil dilation, and facial expressions. In order to get those measurements, it needs to connect to you somehow – at this point, IBM imagines a Fitbit-style device.
Of course, the “I’m watching you” function can be turned off. If you don’t like having a robot constantly monitoring your vital signs and dictating your caffeine levels, you can also use more “normal” ways of prompting a coffee delivery.
For example, the drone can synchronize with your personal calendar to make scheduled deliveries. You can also activate the drone using hand motions – such as a wave.
(Hmm… so your meeting ends at 1:55pm, you’ve got coffee in your hand at 1:56, and you arrive at your 2:00 meeting on time and fully fueled. We like it.)
As for receiving the coffee… you also have options. It can either pour coffee directly into your mug (we’re not sure if it makes sassy comments while it does), or it can deliver the coffee in a sealed bag, to prevent spills.
Errr… yes – that’s apparently still a concern. So, as much as we like the idea of the coffee drone, we think we’ll wait until we’re 100% sure it won’t drop boiling hot liquid on us by accident.
In any case, this is an exciting development in food delivery tech. The applications aren’t limited to coffee, either; IBM is also considering using the technology behind the drone for alcohol delivery.
No, no, no – it doesn’t bring you a shot of high-proof vodka when your mother-in-law is nearby. It will deliver alcohol on request, but it will function opposite to the coffee drone; when it detects that you’ve had too much, it cuts you off.
So, when will we actually start seeing these coffee delivery drones?
Right now, there’s no way to tell. Since this is just a patent registration, we don’t know if IBM has even begun to develop the technology – only that there is some interest within the company.
It’s a cool idea, and we can certainly get behind any invention that keeps us closer to coffee… but we also like our local barista, so we don’t mind waiting. We can imagine things getting a bit awkward anyway…
Coffee Drone: YOU. NEED. MORE. COFFEE.
Office Worker: No thanks, Coffee Drone. I feel okay.
Coffee Drone: PLEASE. DRINK. THIS. FRAPPUCCINO.
Office Worker: No, really. I’m fine. Thank you.
Coffee Drone: ENTER. FORCE-FEED. MODE.
IBM Engineer: Not again, Coffee Drone!!