Amazon withdrew its application to launch Prime Air drones from its fulfillment center in Westborough, Massachusetts, where it planned to deliver packages under 5 pounds to homes within 7.5 miles. The plan had drawn heavy local opposition, and at an October town meeting residents voted 510-13 for a bylaw that regulates drone launch areas, adds privacy protections, and sets fines for violations. MassDOT also told Amazon its aeronautics division must finish a public safety review before any flights, and local lawmakers asked Governor Maura Healey to form a drone delivery task force. Amazon said it will submit a revised plan after more talks with local stakeholders, and it argued its drones make about as much noise as a passing car.
