Amazon and UK government partnership will explore drone delivery safety

A partnership betweenAmazon and the UK government is set to explore the steps needed to make the Amazon Prime delivery drone become operational a reality by enabling Amazon to trial new methods of testing its delivery systems.

A team led by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has provided Amazon with permission to explore three key innovations, according to apress release, which are as follows:

• Beyond line of sight operations in rural and suburban areas
• Testing sensor performance to ensure that drones can identify and avoid obstacles
• Flights where one person operates multiple drones

"The UK is a leader in enabling drone innovation – we’ve been investing in Prime Air research and development here for quite some time," said Paul Misener, Amazon’s Vice President of Global Innovation Policy and Communications. "This announcement strengthens our partnership with the UK and brings Amazon closer to our goal of using drones to safely deliver parcels in 30 minutes to customers in the UK and elsewhere around the world."

Amazon’s latest drone model is designed to rise vertically at an altitude of up to 400 ft;, then transition into a horizontal flight path, where it will travel at speeds of approximately 55 mph, at distances of up to 15 miles. Its hybrid design uses lift fans and a pusher prop for lift and flight capabilities.

In order to navigate safely in the airspace, Prime Air is equipped with "sense and avoid" technologies, meaning it is equipped with some sort vision system, though Amazon has not released any details on its components.

Research conducted as part of this project will help Amazon and the Government understand how drones can be used safely and reliably in the logistics industry, and will help identify what operating rules and safety regulations will be needed to help push the drone industry forward, suggested the press release.

"Using small drones for the delivery of parcels will improve customer experience, create new jobs in a rapidly growing industry, and pioneer new sustainable delivery methods to meet future demand," said Misener. "The UK is charting a path forward for drone technology that will benefit consumers, industry and society."

The CAA, the UK’s aviation safety regulator, will be fully involved in the project in order to explore the potential for the safe use of drones beyond light of sight. Results of these trials will help inform the development of future policy and regulation in this area.

"We want to enable the innovation that arises from the development of drone technology by safely integrating drones into the overall aviation system,"said Tim Johnson, CAA Policy Director. "These tests by Amazon will help inform our policy and future approach."

View thepress release.
View more information on Amazon Prime.

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