- The drone could help owners find out parking spots and alert emergency services to accidents.
- Bentley’s drone could be operated from a smartphone or through the infotainment display.
- BYD’s innovative YangWang U8 SUV is already available with an optional drone.
High-end car manufacturers are continually looking for ways to add new features and technologies to their vehicles, and Bentley could be going tech-heavy with its latest feature, an onboard drone.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of a carmaker venturing into the world of personal drones with one of its vehicles. The BYD YangWang U8 SUV, which is laden with innovative features, can be optioned with a drone that’s stored within a special carrier on the roof. A recent patent filing reveals Bentley is considering something similar, except its drone will deploy out of the hood and include the Flying B badge.
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Patent images reveal the top of the small drone would encompass the Flying B badge and feature four small propellers. Bentley describes the drone as weighing no more than 250 grams (0.5 lbs) and says it could be charged while docked beneath the hood.
AutoGuide reports that Bentley has thought of several ways the drone could benefit its owners. For example, it could be used to find alternate routes through traffic, alert emergency services to accidents, and potentially lead the owner back to the vehicle, should they ever lose it in a parking lot, for example. Perhaps the most handy option would be to send the drone ahead to find a parking space.
The images in the patent appear to be preliminary as Bentley is thought to be targeting a ‘plinth’ or ‘coffin’ shape for the drone. It also wants to add illumination to the launching pad, the drone, and the Flying B badge itself. The drone could be operated through the owner’s phone, tablet, or computer, and could be controlled from the vehicle’s infotainment system.
Based on the filing of this patent alone, it’s hard to know when, or even if, Bentley actually plans to bring a pint-sized drone like this to the market. They do seem to have put a lot of thought into it, though, so it’s plausible that we will see it sometime in the future.
