Amazon has developed a new drone that can deliver parcels in less than thirty minutes. The drones would have better visibility than humans and be more stable than previous variants.
The latest version of the Prime Air delivery drone rises and lands vertically, just like a helicopter. With a combination of depth and thermal cameras, the drone can detect obstacles. Onboard computers identify these obstacles and navigate around them. "From paragliders to high-voltage power lines, this drone has safety covered," said Jeff Wilke, CEO Amazon Worldwide Consumer. "We know that customers will only feel comfortable with drone delivery if the system is incredibly safe."
The electric drone can cover a distance of up to 25 kilometres. Parcels up to 2.20 kilograms are delivered to consumers within half an hour. According to Wilke, 75 to 90 per cent of all purchases remain under that weight.
The company plans to launch a delivery service with the drone within a few months. Nothing is yet known about its location or the number of consumers it hopes to serve.
