European riders have reasons to look askance at the drone delivery system that Amazon has tested in the United States and that will arrive in Europe at the end of next year. Labor competition between machines and people seems evident, although for now it only affects shipments of low weight and volume.
In this offensive, Amazon is not only risking the future, but also its technological credibility with a drone model, the MK30. The gadget promises to revolutionize the distribution of goods in large cities in the coming years, with collateral effects on the employment of distributors. The first flights in Europe of the future Prime Air service are expected at the end of next year, according to the company, with Italy and the United Kingdom as the chosen countries, with the confidence that the method will be extended to other countries of the Old Continent from of 2025.
Confidence in the system of the online commerce giant is absolute, not only due to the successful experiences already achieved in two locations, American cities Lockeford (California) and College Station (Texas), but also due to the severe stress tests to which they are being subjected. subjected these unmanned ships during the last 18 months. The MK30 can deliver five packages of up to 2.25 kilos, to different destinations, in less than an hour. It is also smaller and lighter than previous drone models. Weather conditions do not seem to slow the creature down since they are designed to work in rain and with extreme hot and cold temperatures, with full guarantees of product protection during transit and with custom packaging.
The conquest of silence
The prodigy’s discretion is another of his strengths. According to the same sources, “Prime Air’s Flight Science team custom designed the propellers to reduce the MK30’s perceived noise almost in half. Even when the drone is descending, its sound is still quieter than the range of sounds it They are often heard in a neighborhood.
“Like previous models, “The MK30 will operate safely and autonomously, and is equipped with sense and avoid technology, which allows the drone to identify and avoid obstacles in the delivery area,” explain Amazon sources, who also celebrate that the system is capable of “detecting and avoiding objects that were not there the day before, for example, a newly planted tree or a mobile crane that has moved in its path.” This sense and avoid technology, which allows you to avoid people, pets and property, as well as birds that may cross your path, in addition to accessing small spaces, such as small backyards and densely populated urban areas. Vertical takeoff greatly facilitates its operation to gain height and quickly move away from the ground and then begin horizontal flight with the wings enabled for this purpose. The energy autonomy of MK30 has been doubled compared to previous versions, in order to be able to carry packages to distances hitherto inconceivable for conventional drones.
The vertical takeoff greatly facilitates its operation to gain height and quickly move away from the ground.
AA batteries are the most popular product for drone delivery, as well as beauty and drugstore items. To the above, new product categories will be added that do not exceed 2.25 kilos. In this way, Amazon is convinced that its drones will be able to “fly thousands of times and deliver millions of packages a year,” the American giant adds.
The great obstacles of the new drone will not be physical, but bureaucratic. For that reason, Amazon acknowledges that “it is working closely with national and international regulators, and communities in the EU, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, to develop this program.” As the company explains, “we have dedicated the time and resources necessary to create a secure and scalable service. We have perfected the technology and are now building the appropriate infrastructure to ensure that the service offers maximum convenience to our customers.”
Amazon also notes that it has taken “great care to ensure that the design philosophy of our drones and Demonstrated safety levels are setting a higher bar for safety across the commercial drone delivery sector, working closely with regulators to design to the highest standard set within those regulations.”
