Amazon Begins Drone Deliveries In California And Texas

Santa may soon bring your Christmas presents using drones instead of raindeers. Amazon has begun delivering orders using these flying machines.

The service is called Amazon Prime Air, and it operates in Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas, for initial testing. 

Residents may sign up to have drones carry packages weighing up to 5 lbs. More importantly, they automatically reach homes without the need for human controllers.

How do Amazon drone deliveries work?

Photo Credit: arstechnica.com

Amazon Prime Air started fulfilling orders via aerial carriers in Lockeford, CA, and College Station, TX, due to their limited areas and populations. 

Amazon Air spokesperson Natalie Banke told KTXL Fox 40, “Our aim is to safely introduce our drones to the skies.”

“We are starting in these communities and will gradually expand deliveries to more customers over time.”

Fortunately, Prime Air works similarly to regular Amazon deliveries. Customers receive tracking information and an estimated delivery time for their orders. 

Amazon said, “The drone will fly to the designated delivery location, descend to the customer’s backyard, and hover at a safe height.”

“It will then safely release the package and rise back up to altitude.”

Moreover, Amazon focuses on making drones safe and unobtrusive to human activity. The company uses the MK27-2 delivery drone designed to make less noise than other machines. 

The drones use artificial intelligence to fly autonomously and avoid obstacles like chimneys and power lines. 

Yet, Amazon assigns staff to monitor the drones closely. After all, initial testing yielded numerous crashes. 

The Verge notes an incident in Pendleton, Oregon. According to its article, an Amazon Air drone fell 160 feet and started a brush fire that expanded across 25 acres. 

Soon, Amazon may begin drone deliveries in other areas. Recent filings indicate the service will become available within 3.73 miles of its delivery center in Texas. 

Also, another one will operate within four miles of its Prime Air Drone Delivery Center in California. 

Conclusion

Amazon begins drone deliveries in Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas. Soon, it would likely become a mainstream service as other companies attempt a similar service. 

For example, Google’s parent company Alphabet and supermarket brand Walmart launched their versions last year.

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