In the West Valley, just south of the Interstate 10 is a seemingly endless stretch of non-descriptive industrial buildings. But one is an Amazon warehouse with a unique delivery method.
In the back parking lot of Amazon’s Tolleson facility, gig working delivery drivers load up their cars and drive away. About 50 feet to the east, autonomous drones take off with their own packages.
They use artificial intelligence for navigation as well as visual and heat sensors to monitor surroundings.
Amazon spokesperson Zoe Richmond said the company had to pause the drone flights earlier this year as dust was interfering with altitude readings.
“It was something we did because as we are growing this, You have to prioritize safety, working with the FAA on making sure there are clear guidelines." Richmond said.
She said the Tolleson location was picked as much of the requisite infrastructure already existed.
The drones only operate within a 7-mile radius of the warehouse during daylight hours.
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![Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren [left] Gov. Katie Hobbs and Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama sign a memorandum of understanding for coal-impacted communities at the Desert Botanical Garden on Aug. 11, 2026.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7ad88d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4158x2317+0+505/resize/280x156!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2F46%2F67ddb3664347bcd872157bbfffaf%2Fnavajo-hopi-az-agreement-cg-20260811.JPG)
The six-page MOU is being touted as a blueprint for cooperation between the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the state of Arizona — all of which are “vulnerable to future coal mine and generating station closures.”
![Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren [left] Gov. Katie Hobbs and Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama sign a memorandum of understanding for coal-impacted communities at the Desert Botanical Garden on Aug. 11, 2026.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bcf9baa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4158x2317+0+505/resize/560x312!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2F46%2F67ddb3664347bcd872157bbfffaf%2Fnavajo-hopi-az-agreement-cg-20260811.JPG)
