Amazon has sought permission to launch drones from its Darlington fulfilment centre as it looks to bring automated delivery services to UK customers.
The online retailer’s Prime Air service aims to use autonomous drones to carry out same-day 30-minute deliveries from warehouse to customers’ homes across the area.
Amazon started a similar service in Arizona, US, last year that gave customers access to “over 50,000 everyday essentials”.
The available products included household and beauty items as well as office and tech supplies, and customers who lived near the warehouse could purchase any eligible item weighing 2.2kg or less for delivery in under an hour.
The MK30 drones, which were developed in-house over a two-year period, were designed to operate autonomously, with sense-and-avoid technology allowing them to dodge airborne obstacles in the delivery area.
Amazon is now seeking planning permission and authorisation in the UK from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ahead of the start of...