Amazon Pharmacy has introduced drone deliveries for prescription medications in College Station, Texas, as per a recent company blog post. The new service enables qualifying customers to receive over 500 different medications, including those for prevalent ailments such as asthma and flu, right at their front door. Notably, these drone deliveries promise a turnaround of under an hour without any added charges.
Despite Amazon's stock experiencing a slight dip of around 1% on Wednesday, its Pharmacy division continues to grow. Originating from Amazon's 2018 purchase of PillPack, Amazon Pharmacy debuted in 2020, offering a comprehensive online pharmacy platform. This year saw the introduction of exclusive prescription discounts and benefits for Amazon Prime subscribers.
These delivery drones come equipped with cameras for identifying potential hindrances like humans or animals. Typically, they operate at altitudes ranging from 40 to 120 meters, in areas with few obstructions. If a drone confirms a clear landing zone, it descends to deposit the medication parcel. However, any detected impediments will cause the drone to return to its dispatch center for a later redelivery attempt.
Residents of College Station wishing to avail themselves of this drone delivery service will need a Prime Air subscription and must undergo a property assessment.
Amazon's venture into drone delivery hasn't been without challenges. Recent setbacks included the departure of two key drone delivery executives this August and substantial staffing cuts in the Prime Air division by CEO Andy Jassy. Nonetheless, the tech giant confirmed the successful drone delivery of "hundreds of household items" to College Station inhabitants since the end of the previous year.