NOW THAT’S A
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Shopping’s in the air Amazon is bringing science fiction closer to reality – by trialling drone deliveries
Amazon customers in California will soon be the first to be wondering whether it’s a bird or a plane – when, in fact, it’s an Amazon drone.
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? Amazon is to roll out drone deliveries in Lockeford, California, with packages being dropped in backyards. Customers in the area will be able to give back feedback about Prime Air, which is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and local officials in the area to obtain permission to conduct the deliveries.
IS THAT SAFE? Drone piloting has generally been
marred in the past with headlines of them disrupting planes, violating people’s privacy at home or out and about, as well as being used in warfare. One of the major challenges in this kind of technology being used commercially has always been avoiding obstacles en route while not interfering with dayto-day life. Amazon admits that most drones do not have the capability to sense and avoid other aircraft and obstacles, limiting delivery operation to a small radius. But it says it’s building something different. According to the commerce giant, its engineers have created a
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sense-and-avoid system that allows drones to operate at greater distances while avoiding other aircraft, people, pets and obstacles. “We designed our sense-and-avoid system for two main scenarios: to be safe when in transit, and to be safe when approaching the ground,” Amazon said. “When flying to the delivery location, the drones need to be able to identify static and moving obstacles.” Using this system, the Prime Air drone is supposed to be able to identify a static object, like a chimney, or a moving object, like other aircraft. “As our drone descends to deliver the package into a customer’s backyard,
