Amazon Says Its Drones Will Deliver Packages To Customers In 30 Minutes Or Less
In December 2015, Amazon released a video previewing what the delivery drones for its Prime Air delivery system would look like should they finally be employed for the proposed service. The drone seen in the video, a prototype of a redesigned version of the original Amazon Prime Air delivery drone, looked like a cross between a helicopter and an airplane and was loaded from a conveyor belt, took off vertically, and delivered a customer's package right at his front lawn.
Now, Amazon is revealing more details about its future drone delivery program. In an interview with Yahoo! Tech's David Pogue, Amazon's Vice President for Global Public Policy Paul Misener said, "Prime Air is a future delivery service that will get packages to customers within 30 minutes of them ordering it online at Amazon.com."
According to Misener, the goals that the online commerce giant have set for the Prime Air delivery program are that each delivery will take no longer than half an hour, the drone's range will be greater than 10 miles, and that each package will weigh up to five pounds. The Amazon executive also revealed that each of the company's delivery drones will weigh about 55 pounds.
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The Internet-based retailer is also reportedly developing different types of drones for different areas, delivery circumstances, and weather conditions. According to Misener, the "highly automated drones" they will be using employ "sense-and-avoid technology" that enables them to detect and avoid obstacles in their path. If the customer is not at home when the package arrives, Amazon's drone will leave it at the doorstep or the yard, just like a UPS truck would.
The Amazon boss responded to Pogue's question about the potential danger of people shooting at drones, saying, "I suppose they could shoot at trucks, too."
"We want to make the deliveries," Misener said. He added: "And we believe that these Prime Air drones will be as normal as seeing a delivery truck driving down the street someday. So the novelty will wear off."
Misener could not confirm whether a drone-delivered package would cost more or less than a regular Amazon package.
