Amazon's newest endeavor: A floating warehouse

Amazon has set its sights high with plans for an airborne fulfillment center that would act as a launch pad for drones to deliver items to customers, reports CNBC.

While the online retailer acquired a patent for the idea last April, the concept was not public knowledge until CB Insights analyst Zoe Levitt tweeted about the news Dec. 28.

In the patent filing, Amazon describes the airborne fulfillment center as an airship or blimp, stocked with products, which would float in the sky at an altitude of 45,000 feet. When a customer places an order, a drone would retrieve the item from the airship and fly down to deliver the package.

The company details potential uses for the floating warehouse in the patent document. In one example, the airship could hover above a football game, allowing customers to purchase food and merchandise items to receive the orders within minutes, reports CNBC.

Drones could recharge in the airship, which would be refueled using a shuttle, according to the patent filing.

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Supply chain tip of the week: Effectively communicate change

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