Epic Amazon Prime Drones: Your Parcels Delivered in 30 Minutes

October 20, 2023

At the Delivering the Future event held in Seattle, Amazon unveiled the Mk30 drone, announcing that by the end of 2024 it will begin making drone deliveries in Italy.
The service, named Prime Air, is already active in several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Initially, it will be available in select areas including Milan and Rome, catering to both apartment buildings and single homes with gardens. Amazon will make the delivery directly (with the package dropped from a height of four meters) or via small collection hubs.

Customers will have access to thousands of products such as household items, personal care products, essentials, office supplies, and tech products.

Lorenzo Barbo, CEO of Amazon Italy Logistics, said:

When we started the Amazon Prime delivery program, it was deemed revolutionary. Delivering packages to people where they requested in just a few days was thrilling and novel. Since then, we’ve developed new technologies and supported investments in our logistics network that helped us deliver packages to customers in two days, one day, and even on the same day. We are working with the relevant authorities so that Amazon’s drone deliveries can begin in Italy by the end of 2024.

Technical Features

Amazon’s drones can carry loads up to 2.5 kilograms and fly up to 30 kilometers away.

Additionally, advanced safety systems and cutting-edge sense-and-avoid technology equip them, enabling the devices to detect and avoid obstacles.

Furthermore, the MK30 model will be quieter than the current MK27-2 and will fly even in light rain, adverse weather conditions, and across a broad temperature range.

The introduction of drones in Italy marks a significant step forward for Amazon, aiming to make deliveries even more efficient and sustainable.

Benefits of Amazon Prime Air

Prime Air offers several advantages over traditional delivery methods.

Firstly, it will be possible to deliver packages in minutes rather than days or weeks, which is much faster.

Secondly, it’s more cost-effective: users will pay a flat rate for delivery, regardless of distance.

Lastly, a key highlight is greater sustainability: drones don’t produce greenhouse gas emissions.

Challenges of Amazon Prime Air in Italy

The introduction of delivery drones also represents a regulatory challenge.

In Italy, the law allows drones for recreational purposes but not for commercial purposes.

Amazon is working closely with Italian authorities to secure the necessary permissions.

By the end of 2024, ENAC and ENAV will establish and enforce all mandatory regulations and complete the certification of the service ecosystem.

The organizational and operational machine is in motion, and ENAC has also planned alternative strategies to launch the service even in the event of bureaucratic delays.

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