Amazon has revealed a new hybrid delivery drone that can travel up to 15 miles at high speed, promoted by its latest recruit, Jeremy Clarkson. In a new video released by the online retail giant, one of its drones is seen landing on a designated spot in someone’s back garden. A flap underneath the drone […]
Amazon has revealed a new hybrid delivery drone that can travel up to 15 miles at high speed, promoted by its latest recruit, Jeremy Clarkson.
In a new video released by the online retail giant, one of its drones is seen landing on a designated spot in someone’s back garden.
A flap underneath the drone opens up, and a package is deposited on the lawn.
Amazon says the drone can fly around obstacles thanks to built-in safety features – an attempt to appease regulators who are generally resistant to the idea of drone delivery.
The prototype is an octocopter, meaning it has eight propellers allowing it to take off and land vertically like a helicopter.
It also has wings and a pusher motor so once it reaches the recommended altitude of 400ft it can travel like a plane.
This gives it the 15-mile range which Amazon hopes could revolutionise delivery.
In a promotional video, Jeremy Clarkson outlines how the ambition is for packages to be delivered within 30 minutes.
There was no indication of when it might be used by the retail giant.
The firm was given permission to test delivery drones in the US earlier this year.
It also has drone delivery development centres in the UK and Israel.
The FAA estimates that by 2020 there will be around 30,000 commercial drones and many more civilian devices in use in America.
