Amazon Unveils New Hybrid Design ‘Prime Air’ Drones For 30-Minute Deliveries
Amazon has unveiled a brand new hybrid design for its Prime Air delivery drone, almost two years after it debuted the initial prototype.
In future, the retail brand intends to launch the Amazon Prime Air service which will deliver packages weighing up to five pounds in 30 minutes or less using the tiny drones.
The Prime Air drone takes off vertically, ascending up to 400 feet, before switching to a horizontal flight mode, which is far more efficient.
The new Prime Air drone can reach 400 feet (Amazon)
In a video presented by ex-Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson who is now working on a similar show for Amazon, explains how the the new prototype uses ‘sense and avoid’ technology to prevent any incidents.
The new drone can fly for 15 miles and Amazon says that it plans to introduce different designs for different environments
The company has Prime Air development facilities in the U.K, U.S. and Israel and is testing the drones in various unspecified international locations.
The hybrid drone launches and lands vertically (Amazon)
It’s not clear exactly when the drones will start being used for customer deliveries, with Amazon explaining: “We will deploy when and where we have the regulatory support needed to safely realize our vision. We’re excited about this technology and one day using it to deliver packages to customers around the world in 30 minutes or less”.
Under current aviation laws, Amazon is unlikely to be able to use the drones to deliver goods in cities, though the technology may prove to be invaluable for delivering to more remote locations.
