The latest Prime Air drone, the MK30, has been unveiled as part of the latest expansion of the Prime Air program and is unlike any other drone used to deliver packages.
From Prime Air: The design and testing of the MK30 was completed in approximately 18 months through innovative and collaborative work by engineers. Development and dozens of prototypes So that it leads to this moment.
By the end of 2024, these new drones will replace those currently used for deliveries in the United States. It will also be deployed in a third new US state and soon-to-be-released destinations in Italy and the UK.
![360 degree gif of the new mk30 prime air drone](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/b34047f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x686+0+0/resize/1220x686!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Famazon-blogs-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa7%2F51%2F4088866b421ea460a4422e3c78cd%2Fdf-icon-spins-drone10-13-1.gif)
The drone uses industry-leading “sense and avoid” technology that allows it to detect and avoid obstacles, including people, pets and property.
Innovative safety-critical features allow these drones to deliver packages to customers with smaller backyards or in more densely populated suburban areas.
The MK30 is quieter than its predecessor. Prime Air's flight science team custom designed propellers to reduce the MK30's perceived noise by nearly half. Even while the drone is descending, the sound is still quieter than the sound range you would typically hear in your neighborhood.
It also offers enhanced coverage to serve more customers. It can now fly twice as far as its predecessor.
This drone takes off from the ground using a vertical takeoff and then transitions to horizontal wing-based flight. They can carry packages weighing up to 5 pounds and can deliver them to customers quickly, typically within an hour.
Eligible customers can choose from: thousands of items Products for drone delivery, including daily necessities such as AA batteries (the most popular item for drone delivery), as well as beauty and drugstore products.
While the current drone flies in clear weather, the new MK30 can operate in a wider range of weather conditions, including light rain.