Amazon Pharmacy drone.Photo:Amazon
Amazon
Amazon will start using drones to deliver prescription drugs to customers’ homes.
For no extra charge, eligible Amazon Pharmacy customers who choose the drone delivery service will have access to “more than 500 medications that treat common conditions, including flu, asthma, and pneumonia,” the company shared.
“We’re taught from the first days of medical school that there is a golden window that matters in clinical medicine. That’s the time between when a patient feels unwell and when they’re able to get treatment,” Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy, said in a statement.
He added: “We’re working hard at Amazon to dramatically narrow the golden window from diagnosis to treatment, and drone delivery marks a significant step forward. Whether it’s an infectious disease or respiratory illness, early intervention can be critical to improving patient outcomes.”
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Amazon Prime Air drone.Amazon
According to Amazon, the drones will fly at an altitude of 40 to 120 meters. When arriving at a customer’s home, it will lower itself above a delivery marker. “Computer vision” will then detect if the path is clear to release the package before returning to the delivery center. Customers should then be able to pick up packages without ever having to interact with the device.
source: people.com
