Amazon gets FAA approval to expand drone deliveries

Zoom in: The company said it spent years developing proprietary "detect-and-avoid" technology.

• The drones' computer vision system includes a series of cameras that scan the skies while in flight, and then check the ground during deliveries to avoid people, animals and other obstacles.
• Amazon successfully validated the system in the presence of FAA inspectors to show that its drones can safely navigate away from planes, helicopters and even hot air balloons.

What's next: Now that it has FAA approval to fly "beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)," Amazon says it will begin scaling drone delivery service to more customers.

• First, it will start delivering to more densely populated areas of College Station, Texas (one of its initial test markets).

• Later this year, Amazon will begin drone deliveries in Phoenix — using a faster, lighter next-generation drone that will be integrated alongside trucks and vans into an existing fulfillment center.
• It expects to rapidly roll out the service worldwide over the next few years.

The big picture: 2024 is shaping up to be a breakout year for delivery drones, with players like Zipline and Wing also expanding their U.S. operations and a Walmart-backed company, DroneUp, introducing a new automated landing pad and storage locker.