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Amazon to Launch Drone Delivery in Chicago Suburbs

Amazon to Launch Drone Delivery Service in Chicago Suburbs
Amazon is preparing to expand its Prime Air drone delivery program to the Chicago suburbs, marking the largest deployment of the service to date. The company will operate from two fulfillment centers located in Markham and Matteson, each outfitted with between 12 and 20 drones. The launch is scheduled for late spring or early summer, aiming to serve a broad suburban area within a 7.5-mile radius.
Service Coverage and Technology
The drone delivery service will cover residents in Tinley Park, Midlothian, Homewood, Flossmoor, Dolton, Blue Island, Chicago Heights, and Country Club Hills. Amazon’s MK30 drone, which weighs 83 pounds and can carry packages up to five pounds, will be the primary vehicle for deliveries. This capacity is significant, as it allows the drones to handle approximately 60% of the 25 million items stocked at the Markham and Matteson fulfillment centers.
Josh Brundage, senior manager of commercial operations for Prime Air, described the facilities as the largest type of building Amazon utilizes, featuring dedicated Prime Air Drone Delivery Centers (PADCCs) established on-site. These centers are typically set up in sections of the fulfillment centers’ parking lots, enclosed within fenced areas close to the main buildings, where all necessary infrastructure is installed.
Customers opting for drone delivery will receive an aerial satellite image of their property, enabling them to select from predetermined drop-off points such as driveways or backyards. Amazon develops detailed maps for each new market, combining proprietary and public data to identify the safest and most convenient delivery locations.
Drone Specifications and Operational Details
The MK30 drones cruise at speeds of approximately 73 miles per hour and operate at altitudes between 200 and 300 feet above ground level. Equipped with six vertical propellers for lift and tandem wings for cruise flight, these drones are engineered to function in light precipitation and winds exceeding 20 miles per hour. Brundage emphasized the robustness of the drones, noting that they are significantly larger and more sophisticated than typical consumer drones. As a Part 135 FAA-certified carrier, Amazon holds its drones to rigorous commercial aviation standards.
Advanced onboard perception systems enable the drones to detect and avoid obstacles, ensuring the delivery zone is clear before releasing packages from about 13 feet above the ground. Deliveries will be conducted during daylight hours, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise and concluding 30 minutes after sunset.
Pricing, Challenges, and Market Context
While pricing for the Chicago rollout has not been announced, Amazon’s existing drone delivery services charge Prime members $4.99 per delivery and non-members $9.99, with some locations offering free shipping on larger orders. The company aims to complete deliveries within two hours, with plans to reduce this timeframe further.
The expansion faces several challenges, including regulatory approval, public acceptance, and competition from other drone delivery providers such as Walmart’s Wing and Zipline. Although many consumers welcome faster delivery options, concerns about privacy and safety persist. Competitors may respond by enhancing their own drone capabilities or lobbying against regulatory changes that could advantage Amazon.
Amazon views the Chicago-area launch as a critical milestone in scaling its drone delivery operations across the United States.

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