Online retail giant Amazon wants to use drones to deliver packages weighing up to five pounds to customers within 30 minutes of ordering.
The firm's chief executive Jeff Bezos told American TV show "60 Minutes" the use of unmanned aircraft to deliver packages is being trialled at the moment.
The delivery method, dubbed Prime Air, is not expected to be introduced for another four-to-five years, Bezos said.
"I know this looks like science fiction, but it's not," he said.
One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today.
"We can do half-hour deliveryand we can carry objects, we think, up to five pounds, which covers 86 per cent of the items we deliver."
The drones Amazon intends to use resemble remote control planes and will pick up items from Amazon distribution centres and drop them off at customers' homes.
In a post on the Amazon website, the firm said it will need to wait for clearance from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before it can push ahead with its drone delivery plans.
"From a technology point of view, we'll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place," the company said.
"One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today."
The company has also been quick to assure customers the drones will be designed with safety in mind.
"The FAA is actively working on rules and an approach for unmanned aerial vehicles that will prioritize public safety," the company said.
"Safety will be our top priority, and our vehicles will be built with multiple redundancies and designed to commercial aviation standards."
