Amazon has become the first retailer in the UK to roll out a local drone-based delivery service. The online shop has begun deliveries to addresses within a 7.5-mile radius from its warehouse in Darlington, County Durham.
Drone specifications and operations
The MK30 drones, described by Amazon as its "most advanced yet," are delivering packages weighing no more than 5lb (2.2kg). Items include batteries, household cleaning products, cables, and beauty items. The drones are part of Amazon's "Prime Air" system, aiming to deliver products "in less than two hours." The company believes there is considerable demand for this service and plans to expand across the country.
Customer experiences
Rob Shield, a farmer in County Durham who allowed test deliveries, told the BBC: "Initially it was a novelty, so we were ordering everything under the sun. Pens, paper, chocolates – anything to make it keep coming." The orders arrive in boxes dropped from a height of 12 feet (3.6m) into the garden, ruling out breakable items. Shield added: "You obviously start realising 'I actually need something today' like tape measures and stuff like that you're always losing – we just order it and it comes."
Safety and noise concerns
David Carbon, vice president of Amazon's Prime Air, stated: "Starting flights in Darlington marks an important milestone in bringing drone delivery to the UK. Safety is our top priority and we have worked closely with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority. Our MK30 drones are designed to operate quietly and efficiently." Amazon claims the drone is "as quiet as an average van delivery," though not everyone is impressed. One local described the idea as "nutty as a fruitcake."
Challenges for expansion
Experts highlight hurdles for wider adoption. While the NHS is conducting drone trials for blood delivery in London and Royal Mail uses drones for remote Orkney islands, many conditions must be met. Customers need a garden (excluding roof gardens) to receive deliveries. In February, an Amazon drone crashed into an apartment building in Dallas, leading to delivery halts for certain buildings.
Professor James Scanlan, an aerospace and drone technology expert at the University of Southampton, told The Independent: "I think there are some situations where drone deliveries might make sense such as remote islands, rural communities. However current drone technology is probably inadequate to deal with weather, in particular wind and turbulence." He added: "The drones are noisy. I would not want routine drone flights to operate over my property. A solution to the noise problem is to fly higher but the drones then present a hazard to crewed aircraft and helicopters. This is another unsolved problem."
Amazon's safety measures
Amazon stated: "Safety is Amazon's top priority and Prime Air systems are built with multiple safety features. The MK30 has received Civil Aviation Authority approval to conduct operations. As the MK30 descends for delivery, its onboard systems identify and steer clear of obstacles such as clotheslines or trampolines – items that might not appear in satellite maps. These same cameras continuously monitor the surrounding airspace during flight, determining whether evasive action is needed to avoid other aircraft entering the drone's flight path. The perception technology relies on sophisticated machine learning models trained to recognise various objects, including people, animals, physical barriers, and other airborne vehicles."
