IBM has filed a patent* for an unmanned aerial vehicle* that’s capable of dropping off a cup of coffee to customers before they even ask for one.

The drone would use sensors to determine when someone wants a drink, by looking for specific hand gestures, or by assessing their pre-determined cognitive state*. It would then fly over to the person, with the drink attached to the device via a drink holder, such as a plastic bag, and deliver the coffee.

“The assessment and estimate is based on sleep quality, electronic calendar, biometrics*, blood pressure, pupil dilation*, facial expression analysis, the time an individual woke up in the morning, and gesture analysis,” the patent file states.

These factors would be detected via some kind of Fitbit-style wearable*, or by analyzing a person’s calendar. Of course, the drone can also accommodate users’ preference profiles, or in other words, it can deliver coffees with milk or filter coffees. If someone is too drunk, the drone would be able to cut them off from ordering another drink by picking up on unpredictable movements and slurred speech*.

(SD-Agencies)