Australian textbook rental startup Zookal will begin utilizing drones to make its deliveries in Australia next year , with ambitions of bringing the unique , unmanned delivery method to U.S. customers by 2015 . The company says this marks the first commercial use of fully automated drones worldwide . It will fulfill deliveries in Sydney using six drones to start , dropping off textbook purchases at an outdoor location of the customer 's choosing . To wipe away any potential privacy or surveillance fears , the drones are n't equipped with cameras . Instead , built-in anti-collision technology keeps them clear of trees , buildings , birds , and other potential obstacles . Both the location of the user and the drone 's GPS coordinates are transmitted via a smartphone app , and Zookal claims deliveries can be completed in as little as two to three minutes once a drone takes flight . You can track the drone 's progress from the app ( which will only be available on Android at launch ) and head outside once it 's getting close . The drone never fully lowers itself to ground level , but rather hovers overhead and lowers its textbook delivery with the tap of a button on your smartphone . Watch : Flirtey Zookal flies . `` As one of the few countries in the world to allow commercial drone activities , Australia is uniquely placed to create a new drone industry and shape the development of regulations in this space , '' said Zookal CEO Ahmed Haider . Flirtey , the company that 's providing the drones for Zookal 's ambitious plan , is in the process of seeking regulatory approval with Australia 's Civil Aviation Safety Authority ( CASA ) . A test flight is slated for November , and if all goes according to plan , proper commercial deliveries will begin in March . The FAA will need first need to outline a clear policy for commercial drone usage before such a system can make its way to the US , something it hopes to do in 2015 .
Textbook supplier Zookal will start to use unmanned drones in Australia next year . Smartphone users in Sydney can order books to be delivered directly to them . The company has already started using the technology for its own delivery service and is working with a number of other companies including Amazon, which plans to launch an app that lets customers book deliveries from their