Amazon expands drone delivery service after clearing FAA hurdle | Wilnesh News

Amazon Thursday said The company has received federal approval to fly its delivery drones longer distances without the need for observers on the ground, clearing a key regulatory hurdle and allowing the company to expand its services to more parts of the United States. opened the door

Previously, Amazon was required to fly drones within the pilot’s field of vision. The FAA’s approval allows Amazon to fly out of sight of observers.

The company said it will expand its delivery area in College Station, Texas, one of the cities where it has been testing.

Amazon gained the approval after developing a collision-avoidance technology on its drones that enables them to “detect and avoid obstacles in the sky.” The technology has been a key tool for other drone delivery companies, such as Zipline, as they pursue beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.

Prime Air, the e-commerce giant’s drone delivery service, has struggled since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos laid out his vision for the program more than a decade ago.

Amazon said it will begin testing delivery services in 2022 in College Station, Texas, about 100 miles northwest of Houston, and in the small town of Rockford, south of Sacramento. Initially met with some skepticism by residents.

Prime Air was hit by layoffs last year as part of Amazon’s broader layoffs. The group has also suffered regulatory setbacks and senior executive departures. Last month, Amazon said it would end its drone operations in California and begin deliveries in Phoenix, Arizona, later this year.

The company also plans to further expand to other U.S. cities in 2025.

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