Amazon has filed a patent application for an energy-efficient launch system that literally whips items into the air.
The system is designed to launch aerial vehicles and/or payloads carried by aerial vehicles using whip dynamics by using a cable that has the items attached (but removable) to it. Just as Indian Jones’ whip can break the sound barrier and “crack”, the cable of the system generates a waveform that accelerates as it propagates toward the free end.
The result is the aerial package or payload being flung into the air or low earth orbit. By using whip dynamics, the fuel commonly used in launching these materials is said to be avoided.
Author: Matthew Buck
Authors
Expertise
Insights
-
Intellectual Property Litigation
"Worldle" Faces a Wordle Hurdle
Kory McDonald, the creator of “Worldle”, a geography-themed game, is advocating on behalf of all games ending in “-le”. Worldle shows a series of Google Street view images from which players… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
Not a “Success Kid”
Steve King, the former Iowa Republican Congressman, has reportedly lost his appeal attempting to overturn a copyright verdict for using the “Success Kid” meme in his 2020 campaign. The “Success… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
Alaska Airlines Not Soaring After Losing Appeal
Alaska Airlines (“Alaska”) recently lost an appeal over a trademark licensing agreement at the Court of Appeal in London, in a decision favoring Virgin Group. Alaska was ordered to pay approximately… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
X’s Lawsuit Regarding Data Scraping Dismissed
A federal judge in California reportedly dismissed a lawsuit for breach-of-contract and tort claims brought by Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, against Bright Data, in a case involving data… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
Bacardí Toasts to a Successful Appeal
There has been a new development in a long-standing trademark dispute between Bacardí and the Cuban government entity, Cubaexport, over the "Havana Club" name. Bacardí won its appeal at the US… -
Intellectual Property Litigation
Warhol: Landmark Copyright Case Settles
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has reportedly agreed to settle a copyright infringement proceeding with Lynn Goldsmith over a photograph of Prince that Goldsmith claimed Andy Warhol…