Amazon is set to test drone deliveries for prescription drugs, allowing customers in College Station, Texas, to receive their medications within an hour of ordering.
Launched from a secure pharmacy, Amazon‘s drone will fly to the customer’s location, lower to about 13 feet, and deliver the prescription in a padded package.
Customers will have over 500 medications to choose from, including common treatments for the flu and pneumonia, but controlled substances will not be available.
Last year, the company started testing drone deliveries of everyday household items in College Station and Lockeford, California. Due to customer demand, the company has expanded to prescriptions after successfully making thousands of deliveries there.
Amazon plans to expand its drone delivery services to a third U.S. location and cities in Italy and the United Kingdom by the end of next year.
The exact locations will be revealed in the coming months.
On Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the MK30 drone to replace its current delivery drones by next year.
The MK30 offers improved features, including a more extended range, smaller size, quieter operation, and enhanced delivery capabilities. Amazon’s drones will fly up to 400 feet and conduct safety checks before dropping packages on a designated delivery marker.
