Is Twitter developing a messaging drone?
That could be the case, as multiple media outlets, including Tech Crunch, spotted a United States Patent & Trademark Office filing from the social media giant that was published last week and seems to show just that being in the works.
A specific portion of the patent filing from Twitter reads: "An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carries a camera, sends data from the camera, and receives commands. The UAV is connected to a messaging platform. Pictures or video clips received from the UAV are selected and placed in messages broadcast by an account associated with the UAV. Video footage from the camera is live-streamed in a card-type message."
It continues: "Account holders of the messaging platform may control the UAV with commands embedded in messages and directed towards an account associated with the UAV. Controllable elements of the UAV include UAV location, camera orientation, camera subject, UAV-mounted lighting, a UAV-mounted display, a UAV-mounted projector, UAV-mounted speakers, and a detachable payload. UAV control may be determined through democratic means. Some UAV functionality may be triggered through aggregated engagements on the messaging platform. The UAV may include a display screen and/or a microphone to provide for telepresence or interview functionality."
While there are plenty of questions about this patent filing that remain and have to be answered, imagine a drone that could be controlled by a simple tweet's 140 characters or less.
Now, that would be something special ... something special that the Federal Aviation Administration might have to make separate rules for.
