In a new video, retail giant Amazon shows off a new delivery drone prototype, which the company plans to use for its 30-minute unmanned delivery service, Prime Air.

Market Watch reports that this public demonstration is the first since Amazon unveiled it drone plans two years ago. It was shown a day before one of their biggest shopping days, Cyber Monday.

Like Us on Facebook

The Washington Post reports that the new delivery drone is a hybrid, possessing flight benefits of helicopter-type and plane-type drones.

Eight propellers make the drone an octocopter, and enable the drone to take off vertically like a helicopter. At altitude, a “pusher motor” that uses a large propeller at the back of the drone enables it to have energy-efficient flights like that of a plane. The eight propellers will then reactivate when the drone is near its target destination and needs to make a vertical landing.

Packages will be delivered and dropped onto a customer's backyard, via the use of a marker. As seen in the video, the marker looks like a sheet of plastic with the Amazon logo printed on it. The drone drops the package there, while the customer is updated via online notifications.

With packages being delivered through the air, deliveries can be finished in a matter of minutes – faster than traditional deliveries done by truck or car. The video shows that the drone is flying at speeds of 55-58 mph. Combined with energy-saving flight mechanics, the drone is said to reach distances of up to 15 miles away.

The new delivery drone can also carry large packages, thanks to its huge size. Given that the drone carried an actual shoe box in the video, it can be assumed that it's big.

The post reports that larger drones are generally heavier than smaller ones, and will pose a risk in the event of a crash. However, a larger body also means more space for more propellers that can serve as back-ups, improving its safety features.

Amazon's delivery drone looks promising so far, but the general public is advised to remember that it is still a prototype. Amazon has revealed that it has more prototypes in its research and development departments, and thus it is highly likely that this model will look different when it is finally released.

TagsAmazon Delivery Drone, Amazon, amazon cyber monday, amazon prime air, Amazon Drone Delivery Video