DETROIT – Amazon is expanding its drone delivery service in metro Detroit, with plans to fly its drones out of its fulfillment center in Hazel Park, which can drop off packages at nearby customers’ homes.

Packages up to 5 pounds will soon be able to be delivered by a fleet of 12 drones within about a 7.5-mile radius from its facility in Hazel Park, so along with Hazel Park, the drones will be able to deliver to parts of Detroit, Hamtramck, Warren, Madison Heights, Oak Park and Ferndale, Lauren Wilson, a drone operations manager at Amazon, said at an event announcing the expansion to Hazel Park.

Photo Credit: Detroit Free Press

Deliver Within 7.5 Miles Of Warehouse

“I think it’s really exciting to be able to offer someone an opportunity to receive a product that they need very quickly,” Wilson said at the media preview on Nov. 20 that was also open to the public and held at the Hazel Park Community Center. She gave examples of scenarios in which drone delivery would be a benefit, such as an elderly person not having access to a pharmacy and needing medication or providing goods for customers without cars.

The expansion to Hazel Park builds on Amazon’s launch of its drone delivery service in Pontiac earlier this month. Wilson said the volume of orders through Prime Air is growing every day.

Since starting drone delivery in 2022, the e-commerce company has expanded its service to cities such as San Antonio in Texas and the Phoenix metro area in Arizona.

How Amazon drones work

The electric drones weigh 85 pounds, fly at about 200 to 400 feet and deliver items that weigh up to 5 pounds, such as a thermometer, Bluetooth speaker, Ring doorbell, remote control and cleaning supplies.

Called the MK30 and unveiled in 2023, the drone, Amazon said, took engineers about 18 months to develop.

Each drone has a “sense and avoid” technology that allows them to detect and avoid obstacles, including people, pets and property, Amazon said. The MK30s also have safety features that allow them to deliver packages to customers with smaller backyards and in more densely populated suburban areas.

Read the rest of this story at Detroit Free PressÂ