以后的快递用无人机空投？亚马逊在搞什么？

Amazon's ideas for carrying out drone deliveries just keep getting more ludicrous.

亚马逊实行无人机递送的想法正继续变得更荒谬可笑。

The company has filed a patent for a system that would allow drones to drop packages from the sky, and guide them to a safe landing spot using tiny parachutes.

该公司提出了一项系统专利，该系统将允许无人机从空中投递包裹，并用小型降落伞引导着包裹安全着陆。

In the patent filing, published on Tuesday, Amazon wrote that such a system could "forcefully propel a package" from a unmanned aerial vehicle (or drone) while in motion.

在星期二发表的这项专利申请中，亚马逊表示，这样一个系统可以从运转中的无人操纵的飞行器（或无人机）中“强有力地驱动一个包裹”。

The patent describes how the drone could alter the force applied to the package, depending on where it wanted the package to land.

这项专利说明了无人机是如何根据想要的着陆地点来改变应用在包裹上的力量。

Once airborne, the vertical descent path of the package would be controlled using one or more "control surfaces" - which could consist of wings, parachutes, or compressed air canisters.

一旦进行空运，包裹的垂直降落轨道将由一个或多个“操纵面”进行控制，包括机翼、降落伞或压缩的空气罐。

"Instructions can be transmitted from the UAV via an RF module that cause the one or more controls surfaces to alter the vertical descent path of the package to avoid obstructions or to regain a stable orientation," the patent states.

该专利声明，“指令可以通过无人机的射频模块传输，使一个或多个操纵面改变包裹的垂直降落轨道来避开障碍或重新获得一个稳定的方向”。

Amazon explained that the advantage of this system is that it would be more efficient than landing the drones for each delivery.

亚马逊解释道，这个系统的优势是，与每次投递时降落无人机相比，这个系统会更有效率。

Amazon began testing its drone delivery service in the UK earlier this year, completing its first delivery in Cambridge on December 14.

今年早些时候，亚马逊开始在英国测试它的无人机投递服务，并于12月14日完成了其第一次投递服务。

The retailer intends to use unmanned aerial vehicles to pick up small packages from Amazon fulfillment centres and deposit them outside customers' front doors in under 30 minutes.

该零售商打算使用无人机在30分钟内从亚马逊的运营中心拾取小包裹，并将包裹放置在顾客的前门外。

However, one of the biggest barriers to making drone deliveries work at scale is the fact that they cannot travel very far before their batteries run out.

然而，使用无人机进行大规模投递的一个最大的障碍就是，事实上，无人机在电池耗光之前无法行进太远。

None of these patents provide concrete proof of Amazon's plans; most companies often file patents that never end up becoming real-world products or services.

这些专利没有提供亚马逊规划的具体证明；不过，多数公司经常会申请专利，虽然那些专利最终从未成为真实的产品或服务。

However, they offer a fascinating insight into how Amazon could overcome some of the obstacles facing drone deliveries in the future.

然而，他们却对亚马逊如何克服未来无人机运输所面临的一些障碍提供了极有吸引力的深刻见解。

（翻译：Dlacus）