Amazon has officially launched its first UK drone delivery service in Darlington, County Durham, the only location outside of the US. The service delivers parcels weighing less than 5lb (2.2kg), such as batteries, beauty products, and cables. It currently operates within a 7.5-mile (12km) radius of Amazon’s fulfilment centre. Amazon is using its latest MK30 drone, which is autonomous and equipped with sensors to avoid obstacles like people, pets, and power lines. It drops packages from a height of about 12 feet onto the customer's property.
Darlington was chosen because it provides a mix of residential areas and complex airspace (near Teesside Airport) to test the technology's versatility. The service currently requires customers to have a garden or yard for the drop-off, making it unsuitable for high-rise buildings or dense urban centres at this stage.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved the trial until the end of the year, allowing Amazon to fly drones "beyond visual line of sight" (BVLOS).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx21k21vnmgo
img: From Amazon Press Centre
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