Amazon’s Prime Air autonomous drones to reach 500 US cities
ainews ·
Amazon plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 US cities and towns by the end of 2026, about six times its current number of locations. The drones rely on highly autonomous flight software and a Detect-and-Avoid system to scan for obstacles and make real-time decisions, with onboard cameras used only for navigation rather than surveillance. Prime Air operates under FAA Part 135 certification, which Amazon says is the highest tier of FAA oversight for drone delivery and allows expansion without separate waivers. The service can deliver items weighing five pounds or less, covering most frequently purchased products, with orders arriving in as fast as 30 minutes and typical waits around 60 minutes. Pricing depends on Prime membership and order size, with free delivery for Prime orders of $50 or more and small fees for other orders. Amazon currently operates 11 Prime Air sites across 10 metro areas in seven states, and it plans to launch service soon in metro areas including Chicago, Syracuse, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Boise. The company also has its first non-US Prime Air site in Darlington, UK, testing the autonomous systems under a different national aviation regulator.
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