Amazon has launched drone delivery trials in a couple of new locations in California and Texas
Amazon has started testing drone deliveries in a few new areas in Texas and California. Vice President of Amazon Prime Air David Carbon shared the news on LinkedIn. A picture of one of its drones carrying a little box on the end of a tether was included in his article (see below).
“First deliveries from our new sites in Texas and California,” Carbon wrote in his post. “Couldn’t be prouder of the amazing people that make up Prime Air. These are careful first steps that we will turn into giant leaps for our customers over the next number of years.”
Carbon added that “customers are our obsession, safety is our imperative, the future of delivery is our mandate, technology is unlocking that future, and our people are the foundation that it all sits on.”
Since 2013, Amazon has been working to enhance its drone delivery service. In order to convince regulators that its flying machine is capable of safe and reliable operation, the autonomous aircraft at the center of the platform has undergone numerous designs over the past ten years, each one improving on the last. In 2024, the business plans to introduce its most recent aircraft design, which has increased durability and a range beyond the present nine miles.
Because the regulations governing commercial drone flights are still somewhat rigorous, companies like Amazon and Alphabet-owned Wing have been operating pilot programs similar to the ones that have just begun in Texas and California. Certain customers can place standard online orders for minor items using a smartphone app. The customer’s address is then provided along with a loaded drone. An extensible tether is used to lower the ordered item to the ground when it arrives.
Drone use can hasten last-mile delivery services, particularly in cities where traffic congestion can slow things down. Additionally, electric aircraft help lessen carbon emissions. However, if there isn’t a road vehicle available to make the trip, delivery could be delayed if the drones aren’t strong enough to endure bad weather. The devices can be noisy as well, upsetting people who live near where they fly. In an effort to maintain peace, manufacturers of commercial delivery drones have been focusing on developing quieter aircraft.