Amazon will begin to deliver products using Prime Air drones in Lockeford, California, later this year, the company announced Monday.
It’s the first time the company plans to use drones for customer deliveries in the United States.
Amazon, stated in a release, plans to deliver products by drone into the backyards of residents in Lockeford, California. Amazon said the drone technology can detect and fly around obstacles like chimneys.
“It can also detect moving objects on the horizon, like other aircraft, even when it’s hard for people to see them,” Amazon said. “If obstacles are identified, our drone will automatically change course to safely avoid them.” The drone also makes sure there aren’t people, animals or other obstacles at the delivery site, the company said.
Prime Air is one of only three drone-delivery companies to have undergone the “rigorous process” of obtaining an FAA air carrier certificate, Amazon stated.
“It took years of inventing, testing, and improving to develop these breakthrough technologies, and we’re excited to use them to make customer deliveries,” Amazon said.’
Customers in Lockeford will see Prime Air-eligible items on the site. They will place an order as they normally would and receive an estimated arrival time with a status tracker for their order. For these deliveries, 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.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.
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