Amazon last week publicly demonstrated its forthcoming drone delivery system for the first time in the U.S.
CNET reports that an autonomous Amazon drone delivered a four-pound package — which contained bottles of sunscreen — to the e-retailer's MARS 2017 conference.
Amazon unveiled its Prime Air system in 2013 and, in recent years, conducted test deliveries on private land both in the U.S. and abroad. The company eventually aims to allow customers to receive select orders in less than 30 minutes, but the drones remain restricted as federal regulators weigh new rules for commercial drone use.
Last week's demonstration took place within restricted airspace near Palm Springs International Airport in California, CNET noted. The company announced the first successful drone delivery to a customer as part of a pilot program in the U.K. in December.
Amazon previously said Prime Air would be ready to deploy as soon as it receives approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, but reports suggest that new regulations are unlikely to be approved this decade.
