FAA Gives Amazon’s Drones the Go-Ahead to Carry Lithium-Ion Batteries

If you live in Arizona or Texas, you may want to invest in some flame-resistant umbrellas. Amazon announced Tuesday that it received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to deliver devices equipped with lithium-ion batteries via its Prime Air drones. That means devices such as iPhones, AirPods, and more can now be delivered by air in about an hour to Prime subscribers in eligible areas. Amazon says shoppers who opt into drone-powered deliveries—currently only active in College Station, Texas, and the West Valley of the Phoenix, Arizona metro area—can now pick from 60,000 products that weigh five pounds or less. The company has also updated its delivery protocols; previously, customers would have to place a QR code on the ground for the drone to make the drop. Now, once the drone confirms it’s at the right address, it drops packages from 13 feet above the ground at a designated location without requiring drop-point signage. That height shouldn’t be an issue for most lithi ... Read full article.