Amazon’s drones deliver items in 60 minutes or less—here’s how we simplified the process

From tapping the “place your order” button to seeing the item delivered, the entire process takes 60 minutes or less. So, if you realize you need more sunscreen or forgot you needed more batteries, but don’t have time to make a trip to the store, Amazon has you covered.

All you need to do is select the drone delivery option when you check out if you’re in an eligible area and the item in your cart is 5 pounds or less.

From there, select and confirm your preferred delivery spot at your address, such as in a driveway or yard. You won’t have to confirm your delivery point on your next order, and you can always update the delivery location or report an issue.

Our latest ordering process is the result of two years of building and incorporating a digital map into the drone’s computer with eligible addresses.

Now, the drone can accurately determine how long it will take to fly to an address and drop off the package. So, after the order is placed, Amazon determines a near-exact delivery time (within five minutes) of when to expect it. Amazon will also notify you if your delivery cannot be completed and explain the reasoning.

While building the drone’s delivery map, Prime Air first identified “delivery zones,” or areas free of obstacles like buildings or trees. The team then divided each delivery zone into “delivery areas,” that would be added to an Amazon account.

Finally, “delivery points” were added to each delivery area that were both clear of obstacles and reachable by a drone. For example, a swimming pool looks like a flat surface on satellite images, but isn’t a suitable delivery point.

When it reaches the delivery point, the drone verifies it’s in the right location with the right package before making the delivery.

Once a drone arrives at a delivery point, it descends to approximately 13 feet above the ground—low enough to deliver an item safety and securely. The drone also ensures the delivery area is clear of pets, cars, or people before it delivers the package.

The cutting-edge perception system can detect and navigate around obstacles that may not be on satellite imagery or that may enter the drone’s vicinity.

Not every day can be clear and sunny, either. While the MK30 can fly well in light rain, Prime Air won’t accept deliveries in all weather conditions. The team uses a 75-minute forward-looking weather service to determine if a drone delivery should be available in the next hour. If the conditions are not right, the service won’t be available in the app – customers can still have the item delivered through a standard delivery.

Drone deliveries are an extension of Amazon’s steadfast commitment to a fast and convenient shopping experience for customers.

Now that we’ve made the process more streamlined and seamless, we are excited to continue to scale the the service to reach more customers in the months and years ahead.

Via: Amazon.com