Amazon is finally starting to launch drone deliveries in two small markets through a program called Prime Air. But just as it's finally getting off the ground, the drone program is running into cost-cutting efforts.
"No one has ever been injured or harmed as a result of these flights, and each test is done in compliance with all applicable regulations," Av Zammit, an Amazon spokesperson, said in an e-mailed statement.executive who Amazon brought on in 2020, told reporters at an event in November of last year that by the end of the decade, the company had a goal of delivering 500 million packages by drone annually to millions of customers in major cities like Seattle, Boston and Atlanta.
Zammit said Amazon remains committed to its delivery operations in its two initial markets — College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California. Nina Rinchich is one of the residents in the College Station area who signed up to try Prime Air. About a month ago, an Amazon employee visited her home in Edelweiss Gartens, a subdivision a few miles south of Amazon's drone facility.Prime Air test participants were given a QR-code like tile that instructs the drone where to land.
Patrick Williams, a software engineering consultant, took his 12-year-old daughter, Monica. They live in a rural area called Foxfire, less than two miles by car from the Amazon facility. Monica Williams told CNBC that the size of the drone took her by surprise. Each one is about 6.5 feet wide and almost 4 feet tall, weighing 87 pounds. That's with nothing on board.Monica Williams, a College Station resident, poses with a Prime Air drone at a community event in July.
"If I'm a neighbor and I'm nine feet away, is it going to sound like a backfire of a car?" Maloney asked.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Is E-Commerce Drone Delivery Reliable?Drones could deliver your online orders in minutes. So where are all the drones? 🤔 Find out more information at engineering
Read more »
Behind your speedy Amazon delivery are serious hazards for workers, government findsFederal safety inspectors have concluded that the twisting, bending and long reaches that Amazon warehouse workers perform as much as nine times per minute put them at high risk for lower back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.
Read more »
Drone with sticky patches studies biodiversity by bumping into treesA drone has revealed information on the animals inhabiting a tree's canopy simply by brushing against branches and collecting loose particles of environmental DNA with its sticky surfaces
Read more »
Medina County officers use drone technology in effective Interstate 71 chase arrestThe Medina County Sheriff's Office reports drone video technology is serving a growing role among a team of county police agencies, including the arrest of two suspects during an I-71 pursuit.
Read more »