Amazon expands drone network in Italy, UK, and US with upgrades

EUROPE – Amazon is expanding its drone delivery network to Italy, the UK, and an additional US city, with operations set to begin before the end of the year.

The Prime Air system, which has been delivering packages weighing up to five pounds within an hour in the US for nearly a year, will now be available in these new locations.

In the newly expanded territories, eligible Amazon customers will have the option to choose drone delivery for thousands of items weighing five pounds or less, including household products, everyday essentials, beauty items, and office or tech supplies.

Amazon is also integrating drones into its broader delivery network. Drones will no longer operate solely out of stand-alone Prime Air Delivery Centers.

Instead, customers will see traditional delivery vans, Flex vehicles, and Prime Air drones departing from the same facility.

In Italy and the UK, the e-retailer will start by integrating its drone system with one site in each location, with plans to expand over time.

Amazon has emphasized safety in the development of its drone technology. “We’ve taken great care to ensure that our drones’ design philosophy and demonstrated safety levels are setting a higher bar for the commercial drone delivery industry,” the company stated.

Amazon has worked closely with regulators to meet the highest safety standards.

Alongside the new delivery sites, Amazon unveils its latest drone model, the MK30. This new design is quieter, smaller, and lighter than previous models.

The MK30 can fly twice as far as earlier Prime Air drones, allowing Amazon to reach customers living farther from fulfilment centres.

It is also equipped to fly in a wider range of weather conditions, such as light rain and more extreme temperatures, ensuring quick deliveries in various environments.

The MK30’s unique package delivery system keeps items securely inside the drone during transit, protecting them from the elements.

Like its predecessors, the MK30 operates autonomously and is equipped with advanced “sense and avoid” technology, enabling it to detect and navigate around obstacles, even those that weren’t present the day before.

Amazon has collaborated with regulators and governments worldwide to expand drone delivery. In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is currently testing Amazon’s drone system, including inspections of its infrastructure, emergency services, and flights to remote locations.

These trials, conducted under a new CAA scheme, aim to gather crucial safety data. This includes how drones detect and avoid other aircraft and how they communicate electronically to remain visible to other airspace users and air traffic control.

This data will support the CAA’s ongoing efforts to develop policies and regulations that will enable the full integration of drones with other airspace users.

“Amazon’s announcement today is a fantastic example of government and industry coming together to achieve our shared vision for commercial drones to be commonplace in the UK by 2030,” said Aviation Minister Baroness Vere.

The UK regulator aims to safely integrate drones flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their operators into UK airspace, making this “vital extension to drone flying an everyday reality.”

BVLOS flights, which operate beyond the operator’s visual range, rely on advanced navigation, control, and collision avoidance technologies.

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