Amazon plans to start flying some purchases to its customers later this year, the e-commerce giant said Monday, announcing a drone delivery debuting in the city of California.
Retail rival Wal-Mart already offers drone delivery, dramatically enhancing its service in May, expanding to six states by the end of the year, and potentially dropping one million packages annually. Announced that there is.
Amazon customers in Lockeford, Northern California, can sign up for free delivery with a “Prime Air” drone, the company said in a post.
According to Amazon, “air-eligible” items ordered on the retailer’s website will fly to the delivery address, deposit outside at a safe height, and be packed in a flying drone.
Amazon said it has created an advanced system that allows drones to detect and avoid aircraft, people, pets and other obstacles.
“We designed the sensing avoidance system for two main scenarios: safety in transit and safety when approaching the ground,” the company said.
Feedback from California services will be used to extend the drone service.
Companies are working on autonomous drone delivery, from new start-ups to major tech companies such as Google’s parent company Alphabet.
Alphabet’s drone project Wing completed its first real-world delivery in rural Australia in 2014, shipping emergency supplies, candy bars, dog treats and water to farmers, according to the company’s website. Was successful.
Two years later, a wing drone was used to deliver burritos to college students in Virginia.
“The logistics industry is thriving with drones of everything,” said the Amazon team.
