Not Science Fiction: Amazon Is Working on a Drone-Powered Delivery System

Unmanned drones could someday deliver packages within a 10-mile radius.

By Jason Fell • Dec 2, 2013

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Like a swarm of bees, Amazon-powered drones could fill the skies in your neighborhood someday soon. The mission: to deliver your online orders within 30 minutes or less via unmanned drones.

The e-retailing giant is calling the new program Amazon Prime Air. Guided by a GPS system, the drones are expected to carry packages weighing up to 5 pounds and travel within a 10-mile radius.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced the initiative last night on the CBS program 60 Minutes. "I know this looks like science fiction, it's not," Bezos said.

But don't expect to see these drones buzzing overhead any time in the near future. "Putting Prime Air into commercial use will take some number of years as we advance the technology and wait for the necessary FAA rules and regulations," Amazon says.

Though, that could be as early as 2015, the company says.

Jason Fell

VP, Native Content

Jason Fell is the VP of Native Content, managing the Entrepreneur Partner Studio, which creates dynamic and compelling content for our partners. He previously served as Entrepreneur.com's managing editor and as the technology editor prior to that.

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