Google receives patents for Google Glass and Driverless Delivery Truck Concept

Google Glass has been on the works for quite some time. There were initially many rumours regarding its launch date but later the company revealed that the gadget wasn’t ready yet and needed more improvements. Reports have come in which suggest that Google is currently working on advancing its Google Glass technology, while also working on the concept of a driverless delivery truck.

The company was recently granted two U.S. patents, one for a more rugged and flexible version of its computerized eyewear, and another for an autonomous delivery truck. Google received a patent for a hinged display device for its Google Glass smart eyeglasses on Feb. 9. The hinged device would enable the display screen, which sits slightly over and above the user’s right eye, to be flipped up and out of the way. The display also is being built to be more rugged.

A Google spokesperson said “We hold patents on a variety of ideas – some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don’t. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patents.”

Industry analysts say the technology would be perfect for a version of Glass aimed at business. Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with ZK Research said “It’s nice to see Google build a product that would be so well-suited for enterprises“. Typically, they try and move consumer technology into businesses, but in this case it seems like they are thinking of the specific needs of enterprises — like better quality glass.”

The first look of Google Glass was reveled way back in 2012, during the company’s annual Google I/O developers’ conference. With a processor, memory and a display screen, users wearing the glasses could take photos and video and then upload the data to social networks. They also could use the wearable to view news alerts or maps of a city they’re walking through.

Google also secured a patent for an autonomous delivery platform on Feb 9^th. A driverless truck is an intriguing concept. The patent describes a driverless delivery truck with separate secured compartments to hold whatever the truck is delivering. The customer receiving the delivery would use a keypad to type in a code that would unlock the compartment so the customer could take out the delivery.

Kerravala said “I don’t think customers care how they get their delivery, but this can help businesses lower costs and improve shipping times,” he said.

This story was originally published by Computerworld.