Amazon's Delivery Drones Introduce Robust Emergency Landing Procedures

Amazon's delivery drones are being equipped with a comprehensive emergency landing system designed to ensure safe landings during unforeseen circumstances. This new protocol, known as Safe Contingent Landing (SCL), allows drones to autonomously trigger an emergency landing to navigate safely out of potential danger.

To comply with safety regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, Amazon's MK30 and MK30-2 drones operate at altitudes between approximately 35 and 122 meters. This altitude allows them to avoid obstacles such as buildings, trees, and power lines while maintaining a safe distance from conventional air traffic.

Despite their advanced technology, issues can still arise during flights due to technical malfunctions or external factors like adverse weather conditions. While the drones are typically capable of adapting their flight paths in response to such changes, there are scenarios where initiating the SCL is the safest course of action.

The SCL procedure begins with the drone transitioning from horizontal flight to a vertical hover. Subsequently, the drone utilizes its cameras and sensors, including radar, to evaluate the surrounding area for a suitable landing site. This site must be clear of people, animals, and objects and is assessed in real-time to ensure safety.

Amazon's engineers have rigorously tested the SCL through simulations and actual flight scenarios, including extreme conditions such as the failure of individual rotors or sensors. The drones are designed with redundant systems, enabling them to maintain controlled flight and execute an emergency landing if necessary. Additionally, the obstacle detection capabilities have been tested under challenging conditions to guarantee that the drone can autonomously respond to blocked landing zones by identifying alternative sites.

After a successful emergency landing, the drone will notify the control station, prompting retrieval by an Amazon recovery team. Respecting the rights of local residents and communities is a priority; if a drone lands on private property, team members will reach out to the owners to coordinate the recovery process.

Once the drone is recovered, Amazon personnel will transport it back to the base for a thorough inspection. The drone will only be cleared for future flights after passing this inspection, in accordance with FAA regulations.