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| Amazon testing drones for deliveries | Amazon testing drones for deliveries |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, is testing unmanned drones to deliver goods to customers, Chief Executive Jeff Bezos says. | |
| The drones, called Octocopters, could deliver packages weighing up to 2.3kg to customers within 30 minutes of them placing the order, he said. | The drones, called Octocopters, could deliver packages weighing up to 2.3kg to customers within 30 minutes of them placing the order, he said. |
| However, he added that it could take up to five years for the service to start. | However, he added that it could take up to five years for the service to start. |
| The US Federal Aviation Administration is yet to approve the use of unmanned drones for civilian purposes. | The US Federal Aviation Administration is yet to approve the use of unmanned drones for civilian purposes. |
| "I know this looks like science fiction, but it's not," Mr Bezos told CBS television's 60 Minutes programme. | "I know this looks like science fiction, but it's not," Mr Bezos told CBS television's 60 Minutes programme. |
| "We can do half-hour delivery... and we can carry objects, we think, up to five pounds (2.3kg), which covers 86% of the items that we deliver." | "We can do half-hour delivery... and we can carry objects, we think, up to five pounds (2.3kg), which covers 86% of the items that we deliver." |
| 'Ready to enter' | 'Ready to enter' |
| The service will be called Prime Air and comes as Amazon is looking to improve its efficiency to boost growth. | The service will be called Prime Air and comes as Amazon is looking to improve its efficiency to boost growth. |
| Amazon also posted a video on its website showing a drone picking up a package from one of its warehouses and delivering it to the doorstep of a customer's house. | Amazon also posted a video on its website showing a drone picking up a package from one of its warehouses and delivering it to the doorstep of a customer's house. |
| However, it still has to wait for permission from US regulators. | However, it still has to wait for permission from US regulators. |
| The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of drones for police and government agencies, issuing about 1,400 permits over the past several years. | The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the use of drones for police and government agencies, issuing about 1,400 permits over the past several years. |
| Civilian air space is expected to be opened up to all kinds of drones in the US by 2015 and in Europe by 2016. | Civilian air space is expected to be opened up to all kinds of drones in the US by 2015 and in Europe by 2016. |
| Amazon said "from a technology point of view, we'll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place". | Amazon said "from a technology point of view, we'll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place". |
| The FAA was "actively working on rules for unmanned aerial vehicles", the company said, adding that it hoped the green light would be given as early as 2015. | The FAA was "actively working on rules for unmanned aerial vehicles", the company said, adding that it hoped the green light would be given as early as 2015. |
| "One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today." | "One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today." |