Amazon will begin testing aerial drones in UK suburbs and rural areas through a partnership with the UK government, the first time the ecommerce company has won permission to operate its vehicles under such flexible conditions.
Amazon’s drone programme, known as Prime Air, has been working since 2013 on developing aerial vehicles that can deliver packages directly to customers’ houses. However, the programme has encountered red tape and shifting airspace rules, particularly in the US, and has not launched commercially in any country.
The tests in the UK mark a breakthrough for Amazon as it is allowed to fly drones outside pilots’ line of sight, a key step in testing the vehicles’ sensors. Amazon pilots will also be able to fly multiple drones at one time.