I’ve seen Amazon’s drone delivery future. The public may hate it

A visit to the e-commerce giant’s overhauled delivery program in Arizona left me impressed but sceptical that the public will welcome the flying machines.

Amazon’s new delivery drone dropping an order in the backyard of a home rented by Amazon in Goodyear. NYT

Kevin Roose

Dec 24, 2024 – 9.10am

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Over the past few weeks, concerned New Jersey residents have craned their heads skyward to track the movements of what appeared to be mysterious drones overhead, formulate theories about their origins and strategise about how to get rid of them.

A few thousand kilometres away, just west of Phoenix, Amazon is on an ambitious quest to convince people that the 36-kilogram drones whirring over their houses not only are harmless but also represent the exciting future of online shopping.