Amazon.com sees delivery drones in the future

Amazon's "Prime Air" will provide delivery service using drones, which can bring goods up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg) to customers in 30 minutes or less if they are within a 16-km radius of Amazon's so-called fulfillment centers, said CEO Jeff Bezos. Field testing will begin in Sydney next year, and delivery drones will be promoted within three or four years if all goes well. [Photo/icpress.cn]

SEATTLE - Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos made a splash on Sunday with his radical plan to deliver goods to millions of its customers' doors by using a fleet of unmanned drones, but the bold vision is not likely to become a reality this decade.

By Bezos' own admission, the technology that would enable electric-powered 'octocopters' to fly to pre-programmed addresses unaided by humans is still early in development, and the United States is not likely to establish rules for civilian unmanned aircraft systems until 2015 at the earliest.

On top of that, the idea faces privacy concerns and was derided by some as merely a publicity stunt.

"I know this looks like science fiction. It's not," Bezos told Charlie Rose on CBS News' "60 Minutes" show on Sunday night, demonstrating video of a buzzing, toy-sized chopper delicately dropping a small package on a customer's patio.

The piece was aired on the eve of "Cyber Monday," one of the busiest online shopping days of the year when it helps Amazon to be on the minds of customers.

Dubbed "Prime Air" by Amazon, the vehicles could be used to deliver packages up to 5 lbs (2.3 kg) in less than 30 minutes within a 10-mile (16-km) radius of Amazon's so-called fulfillment centers, said Bezos.

"This is still years away... I don't want anyone to think this is just around the corner," said Bezos on "60 Minutes," acknowledging that the technology needs years of work, and the US Federal Aviation Administration won't likely have rules on unmanned vehicles until 2015 at the earliest.

But Bezos - renowned for his patience on long-term projects - said he was optimistic on making it a reality sooner rather than later.

"Could it be four, five years? I think so. It will work, and it will happen, and it's going to be a lot of fun," added Bezos.

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