Per a company announcement, Amazon plans to integrate drone deliveries into its fulfillment network to reach customers faster. Prime Air drones will start deploying at some of the company’s same-day delivery sites in the U.S., rather than at standalone Prime Air delivery centers like it has done in Lockeford, CA and College Station, TX. This highlights company plans to have the technology become a regular part of its day-to-day fulfillment operations.
The company said it has been using drones for nearly a year to deliver packages weighing up to five pounds in one hour or less. In College Station, Amazon drones have delivered hundreds of household items since December 2022, such as cold medicines and batteries.
Amazon also plans to expand the number of locations where it offers drone delivery. It aims to launch services in Italy, the U.K. and a third U.S. community starting in late 2024. Specific cities will be named in the coming months.
Amazon indicated that it eventually wants its drones to fly thousands of times and deliver millions of packages annually for customers. However, the rollout has been slow, complicated by reported safety challenges and limited delivery activity in addition to industry-wide hurdles to mass adoption. It is working with national/international regulators, and communities in the EU, Italy, the UK and the U.S. to further develop their program.
Amazon has the opportunity to scale up its drone delivery coverage quickly by stationing them at same day delivery sites. The company plans to double the number of these smaller facilities in the coming years, which are located near metropolitan areas and use a streamlined fulfillment process.
The company plans to leverage its MK30 drones to make the deliveries, replacing existing drones by the end of 2024. The new design can fly twice as far as previous Prime Air drone models, expanding the drone delivery range.
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