Amazon Expands Drone Delivery to Nearly 500 U.S. Locales

Amazon is expanding its drone delivery service to reach nearly 500 U.S. locales by year end, up from the current 11 locations where it operates.

The expansion comes over a decade after founder Jeff Bezos first showcased the technology in 2013 and predicted it would be available within four to five years.

Amazon currently delivers packages via drone from locations such as Papillion, Nebraska, and Ruskin, Florida. The company plans to add Syracuse, New York, near Cleveland, and other areas to its service.

The drone delivery hub can reach multiple towns within a 7.5-mile radius, and Amazon has redesigned its Prime Air drone several times since 2013. The current model, called the MK30, hovers above ground and releases packages, unlike earlier models that landed to drop them off.