Amazon Delivery Drone

Amazon testing parcel deliveries by drones in the UK

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Amazon has big plans for using drones to make deliveries (Image: IDGNS)

26 July 2016

Amazon.com will be testing the delivery of parcels using small drones in the UK in a deal with the government that will allow it to try out new modes of operation such as beyond line of sight flights.

The online retailer, which announced in December 2013 that it planned to use drones for the delivery of parcels, has been stymied by regulations in the US, where its futuristic Prime Air delivery system has yet to take off.

The service will cut delivery time of packages weighing up to 2.3kg to 30 minutes or less, according to Amazon.

The deal with a cross-government team backed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will give the company far more flexibility, allowing it to test beyond line of sight operations in rural and suburban areas. Amazon will also work on sensors that will ensure that drones can identify and avoid obstacles, and test flights where a single-person can operate multiple highly automated drones, Amazon said Monday.

“This announcement strengthens our partnership with the UK and brings Amazon closer to our goal of using drones to safely deliver parcels in 30 minutes to customers in the UK and elsewhere around the world,” said Paul Misener, Amazon’s vice president of global innovation policy and communications, in a statement.

Amazon has previously warned that stringent regulations in the US would drive more of its research and development on drones to other countries. It is already testing drones in the UK, Canada and the Netherlands.

IDG News Service

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