Amazon Unveils Upcoming Drone Delivery Services for Markham and Matteson at Tinley Park Convention Center

In the fast-evolving landscape of delivery technology, Amazon’s drone delivery service has already taken off in five states. Illinois is poised to join this select group, with a warehouse in Markham gearing up to be among the first in the state to deploy the 83-pound drones.

The buzz around this innovation was palpable at the Tinley Park Convention Center, where Amazon showcased one of its drones to the public on Monday. The display offered an exciting glimpse into what might soon be a common sight in Illinois skies.

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“It’s the way of the future. I like it a lot,” remarked Tim Throw, a Tinley Park resident, reflecting the enthusiasm shared by many who attended the event.

Terry Throw, another resident of Tinley Park, expressed anticipation for the change. “It will be fun to see the drones delivering. We get so many trucks in our neighborhood now making deliveries all the time,” he noted, hinting at the potential for reduced road congestion.

As part of its pilot program in the Southland, Amazon plans to test drone deliveries from distribution centers located in Matteson and Markham. The drones will be capable of carrying a single order within an 8-mile radius, with a strict weight limit of no more than 5 pounds per package.

Those wanting the ultra-fast service will have to select drone delivery at checkout, using satellite imagery to choose where exactly on their property they want the package dropped off.

“It better be exact because I have a lot of trees in my yard; so is it going to drop in a tree or hit something?” resident Marilyn Stewart said.

An Amazon representative explained exactly how the drones manage obstacles.

“Let’s say you set up string lights for a party, and they were not there when we did the original satellite imagery of your house. When the drone gets there, it will identify those string lights and say, ‘hey, I don’t want to come down there into that,’ and it will come back up, skip delivery. We’ll come back and get your package via ground,” said Josh Brundage, with Amazon Air.

Safety questions have been top of mind since the announcement was first made to residents. In recent months, there have been at least three crashes involving Amazon delivery drones, including in Arizona and Texas.

Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa said he feels comfortable with the plan Amazon has laid out for the community.

“How they would deliver that package and make sure it doesn’t harm property, a person or even a pet, they’ve really vetted this well to make sure it’s going to be safe,” Agpawa said.

And what about those cameras? Privacy concerns have dogged Amazon Air since its inception.

“When the drone is in flight, there is nothing streaming back to us other than telemetry, altitude, air speed, where it is in the world that kind of thing. The video goes nowhere,” Brundage said.

Amazon’s stated goal is to launch drone service sometime this summer, but it could come even earlier than that.