When Amazon first announced its ambitious drone delivery program, some considered it outlandish to imagine a fleet of quadcopters buzzing around the sky laden with packages of soap and other deals of the day. However, Amazon keeps taking steps forward to make that a reality.
Amazon released a video Sunday (Nov. 29) that details not only the design of its proposed drone devices but also their operational capabilities, which may describe how Amazon plans to use the flying machines to supplement its already impressive network of logistical tools. The drones, which will be painted in a white, blue and orange color scheme and an Amazon logo, will purportedly be able to fly as much as 15 miles in a single trip at an altitude of 400 feet. If items are small enough, the drones will be able to store them inside the protection of their fuselages; otherwise, packages will be suspended below the chassis as in earlier models.
Amazon tapped British comedian and presenter Jeremy Clarkson to deliver the drone news, and the star power might help Amazon counteract some of the doubts surrounding the program, specifically related to how the drones could possible operate in diverse and sometimes harsh weather conditions. The Wall Street Journal explained that bird strikes and stormy or windy weather could pose problems for smaller flying devices that are carrying larger loads that might prove destabilizing.
Amazon hopes that the drones will help shorten the top end of its on-demand delivery service to just 30 minutes. Whether or not customers will show an appetite for this kind of supercharged express service remains to be seen, but it’s clear that if it comes to pass, a sleek and smart drone design will be part of Amazon’s mission to deliver it.
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