Image via josefkubes / Shutterstock.com
Toyota has applied for a patent to design an autonomous drone system that can refuel or recharge your car “on the fly.”
The new patent filing was first reported by
The Drive, which noted that a tanker vehicle can drive to a customer’s location via GPS signal and top up its gasoline tank, hydrogen fuel cell or battery. It can also make several stops for other cars before returning to its base for refill.
The document details some features of the “autonomous drone,” including a storage container, a fuel delivery mechanism and a main controller. However, it’s not clear whether the vehicle will refuel a car on the move or when it is stationary.
Since it is only a patent filing, the technology may not be ready for production any time soon. For now, view the sketches of the patent below.
Image via US Patent and Trademark Office
Image via US Patent and Trademark Office
Image via US Patent and Trademark Office
Image via US Patent and Trademark Office
[via
Futurism, images via various sources]