Amazon’s started to deliver orders by drones in California and Texas

In California and Texas, Amazon is using drones to deliver packages within an hour.

In the run up to Christmas in Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas, Amazon Prime Air dropped a few packages via drones in the backyards of customers.

We want to introduce our drones to the sky safely. Over time, we will gradually expand deliveries to more customers in these communities.

The FAA gave permission for Amazon to send packages by drones in 2020, as well as filing Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision documents for Lockeford and College Station.

College Station, Texas is a medium-sized city 100 miles northwest of Houston that is home to Texas A&M, while the small town of Lockeford is 50 miles southeast of Sacramento.

People who live in either town are eligible to sign up and place orders, while Amazon will let customers in other areas know when drones are available in their area. According to the most recent filings, Amazon has a delivery center in Texas and a delivery center in California.

Operations from the College Station PADDC would occur during daylight hours up to five days per week. The operating area is divided into four sectors, with each sector having a maximum of approximately 50 delivery flights per operating day. Only one aircraft in each sector can be airborne at any time. 

 Operations from the Lockeford PADDC would occur during daylight hours up to five days per week. The operating area is divided into four sectors, with each sector having a maximum of approximately 50 delivery flights per operating day. Only one aircraft in each sector can be airborne at any time. 

Customers will receive both tracking information and an estimated delivery time when they place an order.

Amazon claims that the hexagonal shape of the drones improves stability and reduces sound waves. Amazon says it is currently using humans to monitor its delivery drones.

There were setbacks in the development of the drone delivery program, including crashes. The brush fire that stretched across 25 acres was caused by a drone falling 160 feet and sparking it at its test site in Oregon.

Currently, Amazon is working on a new and safer drone that will be available to use in four years. It should be lighter and smaller, handle high temperatures and rain better, and go further.

Many companies are working on their own drones. Walmart and Alphabet launched versions of their own in the past year to select customers.