HBCU Students Fly in Partnership with Amazon Prime Air Program

HBCU students are flying due to a growing partnership with Amazon Prime Air. Capstone Fellows from Hampton and Howard University participated in the Drone Delivery Program’s Technology and Innovation Tour.

Amazon’s first industrial drone delivery facility launched in College Station, Texas, in late 2022. Four aerospace, mechanical engineering and computer science students witnessed the method firsthand, also speaking with diversity leaders and engineers leading its development. As the corporate hopes to alter the best way customers receive packages with emerging technology, its focus has expanded to partnerships with HBCUs.

We spoke with Amanda Rodriguez Smith, senior manager of university partnerships and DEI initiatives at Amazon BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP roots of partnership. She further highlighted their commitment to making sure accessibility for all young engineers.

“We are collaborating at the university level to develop a more comprehensive approach to teaching the fundamentals of mechanical engineering, computer science and aerospace,” explained Rodriguez Smith. “But that’s part of this educational exchange is giving students the opportunity to learn in real time and as we open up, you know, our offices as an extension of their labs. So there are no barriers.”

She added: “Ultimately, it’s up to the students to decide where they’re going to use their core skills and how they’re going to apply them, and whether we’re going to provide them with as many options as possible so they have a choice… It’s not just about flying drones, there are actually all sorts of career opportunities that can be available to a good engineer.”

Beginning in 2021 at Hampton University, a Cooperation with Amazon Robotics was the start of a multi-year modernization plan. Its goals of funding labs and flying drones on campus are to create a level program in the sector. Students from Hampton and Howard participated in the capstone program, and fellow HBCU Tuskegee led the work. Some also earned pilot licenses to fly the modern machines.

The success center will soon introduce a more recent drone model that may provide a sleeker look and quieter sound during operations. Currently, an autonomous drone whose flight paths are monitored by staff can deliver packages weighing as much as 5 kilos inside a 5-mile radius, all in 60 minutes or less. Observing this system’s technological capabilities also inspired students to visualise the longer term of drone aviation.

“It’s quite exciting because what I’m doing with drones now is more research and research-based missions. This is a much further step into commercial rights,” said Tyrique Moss, a mechanical engineering student at Hampton. “My own goal is to speak truthfully concerning the way forward for aviation, to do and see as much as possible. There are so many differing kinds of drones, different applications and tools. These may be prolonged to completely every thing, from search and rescue to delivery. I can attempt to do it. It’s all available to me.”

Amazon continues DEI and STEM skills initiatives including AI Ready Program and Amazon’s Future Engineers. These funds are designed to construct foundational skills for college students from all backgrounds so that they can proceed to pursue their dreams. As for drone delivery sites, plans are underway to launch a second location in Arizona.