Amazon plans drone delivery expansion to about 500 US locales

Amazon announced on August 19 that it intends to extend its drone delivery service to approximately 500 locations across the United States by the end of the year, up from its current 11 operational areas. This expansion follows Jeff Bezos' initial public demonstration of the unmanned drones in 2013, which he had estimated would be accessible within four to five years.

Currently, Amazon provides drone delivery services from 11 locations, such as Papillion, Nebraska, and Ruskin, Florida, with a single delivery hub capable of serving up to seven and a half miles radius of towns.

The enhanced drone delivery service will be available for $4.99 per order or $2 less for Prime members, with the fee being waived for orders exceeding $50. Amazon is required to obtain regulatory approval in each community it aims to enter, typically involving local council hearings and resident feedback. The company has already received FAA approval to operate these drones across most U.S. areas.

During a recent planning and zoning meeting in Nampa, Idaho, Amazon executive Sam Bailey addressed concerns from residents regarding noise, safety, and logistics. Bailey assured attendees that the drones would be audible for about 20 seconds during their descent and fly away at a noise level equivalent to a lawnmower. He emphasized that this brief experience is not markedly different from a delivery truck arriving on one's street.

Amazon intends to utilize the drone delivery service primarily for older adults, parents with ill children, and individuals who have forgotten necessary ingredients for home-cooked meals.