Amazon has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to extend its drone delivery service, Prime Air, across more locations in the United States.
This development marks a significant step in Amazon’s goal to employ drones for delivering 500 million packages annually by the end of this decade. The FAA’s nod allows Amazon to use its Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) technology, which is crucial for navigating drones safely without direct visual supervision.
The FAA typically mandates that drone operators maintain a direct line of sight with their unmanned aircraft. However, Amazon’s recent approval comes after demonstrating its BVLOS technology, which enables drones to autonomously avoid obstacles and safely coexist with other airspace users, such as planes and helicopters. This technology was showcased to FAA inspectors, proving its efficacy in avoiding collisions with other air traffic including hot air balloons.
This FAA approval aligns with the broader trends in drone delivery services, as seen with Alphabet’s Wing, which received a similar FAA exemption last December.
Amazon’s announcement indicates an initial expansion of its drone delivery operations to College Station, Texas, where it aims to reach a denser customer base. Moreover, Amazon plans to incorporate these drone deliveries into its same-day delivery network within the year.
Despite these advancements, Amazon recently ended its drone delivery operations in Lockeford, California, without disclosing specific reasons. However, it has announced plans to initiate drone deliveries in Tolleson, Arizona, later this year.
The competitive landscape in drone deliveries includes other significant players like Walmart, which partnered with Wing for drone deliveries at select Superstores, alongside companies such as Walgreens and DoorDash.
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