The sight of Amazon’s delivery drones buzzing over their homes could soon be the norm for a growing chunk of Americans.
Amazon said Prime Air is expanding its drone delivery service to almost 500 US cities and towns by the end of this year. The company plans to make the service available to customers in Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, Idaho, and New York.
That’s a major ramp up. Seven states, including Nebraska and Florida, already have access.
The company says that any items that weighs 5 pounds or less, and that can fit in a large shoe box, can be delivered by a drone. That’s the majority of the millions of packages ordered on Amazon every day.
“Orders arrive in as fast as 30 minutes, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout,” Amazon sad in a press release.
Amazon said it uses “multiple” independent systems to keep the autonomous aircraft performing safely, including its “Detect-and-Avoid” system that monitors airspace and the environment. “It’s similar to a trained pilot who scans the surrounding airspace, and it allows the drones to independently see and make real-time decisions while in flight.”
Although Amazon hasn’t shared the full list of locations, customers can check if they’re currently eligible for the service through the company’s website. On the homepage, customers can click into the drop-down menu and find “Drone Delivery” under the “Programs & Features” section.
Once a customer selects “Drone Delivery,” they’ll be taken to the drone delivery webpage, which includes a map of current and future locations. Additionally, clicking the “Shop Now” button in the drone delivery section will reveal a customer’s status.
Launched in 2022, Amazon is positioning Prime Air as the next horizon in delivery services. Customers can order everything from groceries to medications and electronics.
Walmart has also ramped up its own drone delivery service over the last year, bringing it to 100 more stores in places like Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa.
While that sounds convenient, the sounds of the drones themselves might prove an issue for some residents — as anyone who has tried to chill on a beach while someone flies a consumer drone to get that sweeping shot for Instagram can attest.
Are you worried about the noise from delivery drones? Privacy issues? Something else? Share your thoughts about delivery drones in the comments.
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