Introduction

Amazon Pharmacy has announced that customers in College Station, Texas can now receive their prescription medications through drone delivery. This service allows eligible customers to access over 500 medications, including treatments for common conditions like asthma and the flu. The medication will be delivered to their doorstep in less than 60 minutes at no additional cost.

Shares of Amazon were down approximately 1% on the day of the announcement.

About Amazon Pharmacy

Amazon Pharmacy is a comprehensive online pharmacy service launched by Amazon in 2020 after acquiring PillPack in 2018. It offers a wide range of prescription medications and has been enticing customers with perks and savings benefits for Prime members.

Drone Delivery Process

Amazon’s drones are equipped with cameras to identify objects and fly at altitudes of 40 to 120 meters in airspace with minimal obstacles. Once a drone confirms a clear delivery space, it descends and releases the package containing the customer’s medication. However, if obstacles are detected, the drone will return to the Amazon fulfillment center and attempt delivery at a later time.

Eligibility and Requirements

To be eligible for drone delivery, customers in College Station, Texas must sign up for Prime Air and complete a yard survey.

Amazon’s Drone Delivery Journey

Amazon has been working on drone delivery for several years. While facing internal changes, including the departure of key executives and layoffs, the company claims to have successfully delivered hundreds of household items to College Station consumers since late last year.