Amazon's Prime Air Test Drone Delivery In Texas, Faster And Traffic Free

JAKARTA - Amazon's Prime Air delivery drone will soon begin testing in Texas. Drone delivery tests are underway at College Station, Texas, along with a test area announced last month located in Lockeford, California.

The current MK27-2 drone design has a hexagonal shape which Amazon says improves stability as well as propellers that the company claims will minimize high-frequency sound waves.

The company initially announced plans to create a 30-minute drone delivery service in 2013 and showcased this latest video as a demonstration of what the future might look like.

Amazon showcased a redesigned drone with hybrid VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capability in 2019 and received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing its drones to carry packages while working outside the operator's visual line of sight in 2020.

Before announcing plans to begin test delivery to consumers, the report focused on the hurdles Amazon was facing, including multiple drone crashes and allegations that the program was rushed.

Amazon said "hundreds" of customers in the Lockeford area had contacted to join the test group and that its launch in Texas represented a partnership with the city and Texas A&M University "on some of the great work they've done" with respect to drones.