Drawings in the patent application show people summoning coffee. Source: IBMFeeling the midday slump that often interrupts a productive workday? IBM may offer a future solution that won’t even require workers to leave their desks for a midday pick-me-up. The solution, according to a patent filed by the tech giant, is a coffee-carrying drone.

Detailing how it would operate, IBM envisions technology that would enable drones to identify the "cognitive state” of employees in an office setting and, if it is determined that an office worker is struggling to stay awake, an “unspooling string” would unfurl from the drone, delivering a much-needed cup of coffee.

Although it is unclear whether IBM intends to actually develop the coffee drone, the patent includes a number of design iterations, including the delivery of coffee in a sealed bag to prevent scalding those below as well as a scenario where coffee is simply poured into a person’s mug.

Likewise, the patent suggests that IBM is considering the possibility of outfitting the drones with technology capable of detecting whether or not a person is drowsy based on pupil dilation, blood pressure and facial expressions.

Still another design suggests that the person in need of a cup of coffee could simply gesture to the drone.

Stay tuned to see if IBM’s scheme comes to fruition.