Amazon Unveils New Delivery Drone
Amazon leaves no stone unturned when it comes to delivering their products to the best of their ability. Over the years, they have become more adept in making sure packages get to consumers quicker than before. Most recently, the company has unveiled a new revolutionary way of getting products to their buyers. Amazon showed off its newest invention: a delivery drone.
The model and purpose of the drone were released earlier this week on June 5 at a conference in Las Vegas. Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer spoke on the project. He said, “We’ve been hard at work building fully electric drones that can fly up to 15 miles and deliver packages under five pounds to customers in less than 30 minutes.”
The new product may confuse people, as it does not look or fly like a typical drone. The company’s new delivery method is shaped like a hexagon. As safety is the company’s main priority, the drone is equipt with artificial intelligence, using sensors to fly through their air without the threat of an aircraft or other people on the ground. In addition to this, all six sides are covered by a shroud to protect people from the six propellers that sit on the inside. Shaped like an “S,” these propellers were invented in a way to avoid making a loud sound so that they can drop in quiet neighborhoods without disrupting people. Sitting right in the center of the drone is a square-shaped pod. This is where the packages are intended to be carried. The design allows it to come about a foot or two away from the ground before dropping this package off at its designated location.
There are many other delivery drones that exist in the world. However, none of them fly similarly to the product that Amazon plans to send out into the world. Between the six propellers and four control surfaces that maneuver it in flight, the piece of technology has ten moving parts. About six feet across, the drone will lift off the ground vertically and transition horizontally in the air to fly like a plane.
While the drone has no name yet, Amazon plans to put it to work as soon as possible. Wilke stated during the release, “…with the help of our world-class fulfillment and delivery network, we expect to scale Prime Air both quickly and efficiently, delivering packages via drone to customers within months.”
However, it is unsure of exactly when the drones can be seen in the air. Shortly after their announcement, the FAA released a statement saying the company was granted a one-year approval to test the drone. This can be done limitedly, in a way that does not allow deliveries. Still, Amazon shows confidence that this is a project they can fulfill successfully.
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