Now we know exactly how Prime Air has fared: Five months into 2023, it has completed 100 deliveries, or about 1 percent of its goal of 10,000 deliveries this year. But soon after, Prime Air was hit with layoffs, and early reports implied less-than-stellar returns in Lockeford and College Station. Still, Amazon soldiered on, launching its two services a month later. The drone’s 80-pound weight also places it outside the purview of the FAA’s Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems rule, muddying the regulatory waters further. The decision reportedly came as a surprise-according to Prime Air employees, the firm had put up dozens of staffers in hotels in Pendleton, Oregon, home to one of its main test sites, with plans to move them to Lockeford and College Station last summer.Īccording to the FAA, Amazon did not demonstrate that the MK27-2-its latest drone model, a hexagonal design with six propellers and an onboard sense-and-avoid system-could safely operate near people. Those restrictions were cemented in November after the FAA rejected several of Amazon’s petitions to ease them. But those approvals come with major restrictions-in Amazon’s case, they include the ability to fly at night, over people and roads, or beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of a ground observer. Perhaps the largest is the regulatory hurdles it faces.Īmazon, one of five drone firms to receive FAA Part 135 air carrier certification, would appear to be in a good spot.
#Amazon drone delivery gif drivers#
There are a few potential drivers for the business’ struggles. But so far, Amazon has failed to capitalize on that market, too.Īmazon did not immediately respond to FLYING‘s request for comment.
In Lockeford, a town of about 4,000, Prime Air employees said Amazon’s drones serve only two households, each less than a mile from the firm’s local delivery hub.Ĭollege Station, which has a population closer to 120,000, may provide more opportunities. Now, that projection appears to be in peril. Per internal company projections, the firm in January was targeting 10,000 deliveries by the end of 2023. Last week, the e-commerce giant told CNBC that its Prime Air drone delivery service-which currently serves a smattering of households in Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas-has completed just 100 deliveries since launching in late December. While the drones fly autonomously, using algorithms to avoid obstacles like power lines and chimneys, Amazon is currently keeping tabs on deliveries with human eyes.Amazon’s drone delivery dream isn’t dead, but it may be time for the firm to reassess its strategy. At the moment, the company is focused on safe transit above all else.
We are starting in these communities and will gradually expand deliveries to more customers over time,” Natalie Banke, Amazon Air spokesperson told KTXL Fox 40 in Sacramento, which first reported the launch of Prime Air.Īmazon is using a hexagonal MK27-2 delivery drone with six propellors that are designed to minimize high-frequency sound waves. “Our aim is to safely introduce our drones to the skies. College Station is roughly 100 miles northwest of Houston and is the home of Texas A&M University. Lockeford is a small, rural town of about 3,500 residents located about 50 miles southeast of Sacramento and just northwest of Stockton, making it an ideal location to pilot drone delivery. "It will then safely release the package and rise back up to altitude." "The drone will fly to the designated delivery location, descend to the customer's backyard, and hover at a safe height," Amazon said. Once an order is placed, the customer gets an estimated delivery time and tracking info. Residents of both towns can sign up for the service, and Amazon will then confirm that the company can deliver safely to the customer's address.
The maximum payload for Prime Air is 5 lb, and Amazon says that 85 percent of its shipments fall under that weight. In August of this year, the retail giant received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to use drones for package deliveries. and College Station, Texas, delivering a small number of packages just in time for Christmas. Amazon Prime Air is now operating in Lockeford, Calif. Amazon has begun delivering orders by drone.
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