Amazon’s drone delivery service has already taken off in five states, and Illinois is poised to join the ranks. A warehouse in Markham has been selected as one of the pioneering sites to deploy these 83-pound flying machines when they eventually soar through the skies of the Prairie State.
On Monday, Tinley Park’s Convention Center was abuzz with excitement as an Amazon-designed drone took center stage. The company opened its doors to the public, showcasing what might soon be a common sight in neighborhoods later this year.
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Enthusiasm was palpable among locals. “It’s the way of the future. I like it a lot,” remarked Tim Throw, a Tinley Park resident. Echoing his sentiment, fellow resident Terry Throw added, “It will be fun to see the drones delivering. We get so many trucks in our neighborhood now making deliveries all the time.”
Testing for Amazon’s drone delivery service will take place in the Southland, with Matteson and Markham distribution centers serving as launch hubs. Each drone will deliver a single order, covering an 8-mile radius, with a maximum package weight of 5 pounds.
Customers eager to experience this ultra-fast service will need to select drone delivery at checkout. By using satellite imagery, they can specify the exact spot on their property where they want the package to be dropped off.
Those wanting the ultra-fast service will have to select drone delivery at checkout, using satellite imagery to choose where exactly on their property they want the package dropped off.
“It better be exact because I have a lot of trees in my yard; so is it going to drop in a tree or hit something?” resident Marilyn Stewart said.
An Amazon representative explained exactly how the drones manage obstacles.
“Let’s say you set up string lights for a party, and they were not there when we did the original satellite imagery of your house. When the drone gets there, it will identify those string lights and say, ‘hey, I don’t want to come down there into that,’ and it will come back up, skip delivery. We’ll come back and get your package via ground,” said Josh Brundage, with Amazon Air.
Safety questions have been top of mind since the announcement was first made to residents. In recent months, there have been at least three crashes involving Amazon delivery drones, including in Arizona and Texas.
Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa said he feels comfortable with the plan Amazon has laid out for the community.
“How they would deliver that package and make sure it doesn’t harm property, a person or even a pet, they’ve really vetted this well to make sure it’s going to be safe,” Agpawa said.
And what about those cameras? Privacy concerns have dogged Amazon Air since its inception.
“When the drone is in flight, there is nothing streaming back to us other than telemetry, altitude, air speed, where it is in the world that kind of thing. The video goes nowhere,” Brundage said.
Amazon’s stated goal is to launch drone service sometime this summer, but it could come even earlier than that.
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