During Amazon’s re:MARS Conference (Machine Learning, Automation, Robotics and Space) in Las Vegas, the company unveiled its latest Prime Air drone design.

Amazon has been actively working to build fully electric UAS that can fly up to 15 miles and deliver packages under five pounds to customers in less than 30 minutes. The company says that with the help of its fulfillment and delivery network, it expects to scale Prime Air “both quickly and efficiently,” using the UAS to deliver packages to customers within months.

Amazon's newest drone design is equipped with advances in efficiency, stability and safety. The UAS also “advances the state of the art,” Amazon says, thanks to its hybrid design, and ability to perform vertical takeoffs and landings like a helicopter.

Amazon says that the UAS is also efficient and aerodynamic like an airplane, and can easily transition between the vertical-mode and airplane mode.

The UAS is also fully shrouded for safety, and is efficient in flight due to the shrouds also being the wings.

According to Amazon, the UAS is more stable and capable of operating safely in more gusty wind conditions, thanks to being controlled with six degrees of freedom, as opposed to the standard four.

“We know customers will only feel comfortable receiving drone deliveries if they know the system is incredibly safe,” Amazon says. “So we’re building a drone that isn’t just safe, but independently safe, using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.”

Amazon says that some UAS are autonomous but not able to react to the unexpected, as they rely on communications systems for situational awareness. The company says that if the flight environment of its drone changes, or the drone‘s mission commands it to come into contact with an object that wasn’t there previously—it will refuse to do so—it is independently safe. 

Amazon explains this by considering two of the drone’s main delivery stages: in transit to a destination, and when approaching the ground.

Amazon says that its UAS need to be able to identify static and moving objects coming from any direction. With this in mind, Amazon uses diverse sensors and advanced algorithms, such as multi-view stereo vision, to detect static objects like a chimney. The UAS uses proprietary computer-vision and machine learning algorithms to detect moving objects such as a paraglider or helicopter.

For the UAS to descend for delivery, Amazon says that it needs a small area around the delivery location that is clear of people, animals, or obstacles, so it determines this by using explainable stereo vision in parallel with sophisticated AI algorithms trained to detect people and animals from above.

“A customer’s yard may have clotheslines, telephone wires, or electrical wires. Wire detection is one of the hardest challenges for low-altitude flights,” Amazon says. “Through the use of computer-vision techniques we’ve invented, our drones can recognize and avoid wires as they descend into, and ascend out of, a customer’s yard.”

Amazon notes that it is also “thrilled” about the potential environmental impact that its UAS can have, as Prime Air is one of several sustainability initiatives to help achieve Shipment Zero, which is Amazon’s vision to make all Amazon shipments net zero carbon, with 50 percent of all shipments net zero by 2030.

“When it comes to emissions and energy efficiency, an electric drone, charged using sustainable means, traveling to drop off a package is a vast improvement over a car on the road,” Amazon says.

While most people go to the store now when they need an item, Amazon says that a service like Prime Air will allow consumers to order from home and stay home, which reduces emissions, and leads to significant savings on fuel usage.

“Our drones are safe, efficient, stable, and good for the environment. We know customers have high standards, so we set a high bar for Prime Air. And we’re excited to be nearing our goal,” Amazon says.