FAA Clears Amazon To Expand Deliveries By Drone

May 30, 2024 Business, Government

The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized Amazon’s delivery drones to fly longer distances without visual spotters, a key hurdle that will allow the retailer to expand its fledgling Prime Air service.

Amazon’s goal is to deliver 500 million packages a year by drone by 2029. But first, it had to satisfy government regulators that it could fly safely in increasingly crowded skies.

The company said it spent years developing proprietary “detect-and-avoid” technology. The drones’ computer vision system includes a series of cameras that scan the skies while in flight, and then check the ground during deliveries to avoid people, animals and other obstacles.

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Amazon has won FAA approval to fly its delivery drones longer distances without visual spotters — allowing it to expand its Prime Air service.

Its goal is to deliver 500 million packages a year by drone by 2029. https://t.co/SJoYq3YM6E

— Axios (@axios) May 30, 2024