An Amazon delivery drone is displayed at Amazon's BOS27 Robotics Innovation Hub in Westborough, Massachusetts, on November 10, 2022.
Joseph Prezioso | AFP | Getty Images
Amazon It said Thursday it has received federal approval to fly delivery drones longer distances without the need for ground controllers, clearing a major regulatory hurdle and opening the door for the company to expand the service to more parts of the United States.
Previously, Amazon was required to fly its drones within the pilot's line of sight. The FAA approval allows Amazon to conduct flights beyond an observer's line of sight.
The company said it will expand its delivery area in College Station, Texas, one of the cities where testing is being conducted.
Amazon received the approval after developing collision avoidance technology on board drones, which enables them to “detect and avoid obstacles in the air.” This technology has been a key tool for other drone delivery companies, such as Zipline, looking to operate beyond visual range of sight, or BVLOS.
The e-commerce giant's drone delivery service, Prime Air, has struggled since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos laid out his vision for the program more than a decade ago.
In 2022, Amazon said it would begin testing deliveries in College Station, Texas, about 100 miles northwest of Houston, and Lockford, a town south of Sacramento where the program was initially met with some skepticism by residents.
Prime Air was hit by layoffs last year as part of broader job cuts at Amazon. The group also faced organizational setbacks and executive departures. Last month, Amazon said it would end drone operations in California and begin deliveries near Phoenix, Arizona, later this year.
It is also eyeing further expansion into other US cities in 2025. The company said it aims to deliver 500 million packages by drone annually by the end of the decade.
