SOA-C02 course outline - AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (SOA-C02) Updated: 2023

Amazon has asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an exemption from rules prohibiting the use of drones for commercial purposes.  With this request, the company has signaled that they are serious about transitioning the idea of thirty minute Prime Air deliveries from concept to reality.

Current FAA rules restrict commercial use of drones, and Amazon is seeking an exemption from those rules so the company can conduct additional research and development of their Prime Air concept.  The company claims to have made rapid developments in its Prime Air program by testing their drones inside their research and development lab in Seattle. Now, the shopping giant wants the ability to safely innovate and to do, in their words "what thousands of hobbyists and manufacturers of model aircraft do every day."

Here are six things you need to know about Amazon's request to fly drones:

1. 

Amazon is not asking to fly drones up and down the streets of Seattle or any other public place for that matter.  Their request is very clear, the company wants to to engage in private, non‐commercial research and development operations involving drones on their own property.

Amazon wants to operate what they refer to as their "own private model airplane field, but with additional safeguards that go far beyond those that FAA has long‐held provide a sufficient level of safety for public model airplane fields."  Amazon's operations, if allowed, will be conducted in a confined area over isolated Amazon private property.  The company plans to locate their private air field a sufficient distance away from any airport, heliport, seaplane base, spaceport or other location with aviation activities.  They plan to do so away from densely populated areas and any military or U.S. government installations or airfields.

Not surprisingly, the company plans to impose strict security controls on access to their test facility.  Testing operations at the private airfield will occur only in the presence of Amazon employees, contract personnel, and invitees.  The company plans to implement security measures to deter unauthorized access.

2.  

Demonstrating how innovation can occur rapidly when a company has the will and resources to experiment, Amazon claims to have rapidly prototyped their systems using indoor research labs in Seattle.  The company has quickly developed highly-automated aerial vehicles with advanced capabilities and claims to be on the ninth generation of their drone.

The company has tested the full spectrum of their drone's capabilities including agility, flight duration and redundancy.  They also claim to have developed sense-and-avoid sensors and algorithms that will allow the Prime Air drones to see obstacles and automatically avoid collisions.  The battery powered drones are a rotor based system capable of flying at 50mph, and can carry a five pound payload --- which is sufficient to deliver 86% of the products in Amazon's inventory.

3.  

The company has conducted rapid prototyping indoors (where the FAA does not control the airspace), but now they want to transition to testing outdoors.  Doing so will allow them to evaluate how the drones will operate in more realistic, non-lab like conditions.  However, once the company moves outside they will be subjected to the FAA's burdensome regulations which stifle innovation.

The FAA currently requires all test aircraft to fly only at FAA test-sites, and to seek special "airworthiness certificates." Certificates generally go to aircraft that have already gone through a lengthy period of R&D --- but Amazon wants an exemption so that they can conduct R&D and prototyping.  The company says that it would be impractical for them to only fly at FAA test-sites or apply for a special "airworthiness certificate" for each of the drones they are evaluating.

The company has a strong argument given the fact that in a mere five months Amazon has advanced through nine versions of their drone.    As Amazon stated, "it would be an unreasonable burden on both the FAA and Amazon if we were required to apply for a special airworthiness certificate for every sUAS design or testing configuration while we are in R&D and conducting rapid prototyping."

4.  

Amazon compares their drones to model aircraft, which makes sense because manned aircraft are simply impractical for the type of delivery operations the company wants to test and eventually implement.  Amazon seeks to operate their drones (on their private airfield) within the visual line of sight of the operator and/or one or more observers, at less than 400 feet above ground level, and within Class G airspace.

Amazon plans to implement procedures to ensure that drone operators and observers are not distracted while flying their drones.  The operator will be considered a "pilot in command" and will have responsibility for the operation of the drone and will hold a private pilot certificate or will have completed FAA private pilot ground instruction and passed the FAA private pilot written examination.  The company plans to only use operators who have "completed training on the normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures in specific details and demonstrated proficiency with the sUAS being operated."  Operators and observers will be in constant contact and if contact is broken between them, or if either individual spots a safety risk, the operator will immediately conclude the flight.

5.  

The company is embracing technology to ensure operations are safe.  Rather than merely relying on the skill of a pilot to ensure that the drone stays within the test site, the company will instead use geofencing to keep the drone below 400 feet above ground level and within the boundaries of the test facility.  Geofencing is a feature in a software program that uses GPS or radio frequency triangulation to define geographical boundaries, effectively drawing a virtual barrier within which a drone can be confined.  This feature is one that is already available on many commercial drones.  As an example the DJI Phantom's existing firmware update (see video below) includes safety software that automatically prevents the drone from flying near an airport.

Amazon also plans to add a feature to their drone that is common amongst most consumer drones, that is the requirement that each drone will safely stop operating and return automatically to a specific location on Amazon’s private property if the communications link to the drone is lost.

Interestingly, because the company plans to use an observer and an operator, they've empowered the observer with a "kill-switch" that will allow the observer to "press a physical button, that will be within his/her reach at all times, that reduces power to the vehicle so as to force a controlled landing; both the hardware and communication for this safety system will be physically separate from the sUAS flight control systems."

6.  

In their exemption request, Amazon made clear that they have other options for testing their drones.  They wrote:

we have been limited to conducting R&D flights indoors or in other countries. Of course, Amazon would prefer to keep the focus, jobs, and investment of this important research and development initiative in the United States by conducting private research and development operations outdoors near Seattle.

That's a not so subtle hint that the company will take their R&D abroad if the FAA doesn't get their act together.  It would be relatively simple for Amazon to take their operations to Canada, which has proven to be extremely hospitable to drone companies.

Amazon sees drones as the future of commercial delivery.  The technology is one way Amazon can shave down shipping expenses which cost the company nearly $4 billion per year.  Amazon has demonstrated that they are committed to developing drone technology to secure their future --- the question is, will the FAA allow it?

Gregory S. McNeal is a professor specializing in law and public policy.  You can follow him on Twitter @GregoryMcNeal or on Facebook.

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The best Alexa smart speakers don't just offer support for the voice assistant -- they also sound good, look good, and bring great value to your home. They often serve as the "brains" of a connected smart home, as you can supply commands to the rest of your Alexa-enabled products just by talking to your smart speaker.

But with so many Alexa smart speakers on the market in 2023, it can be a challenge when narrowing down your options. It's hard to go wrong with anything from Amazon, Bose, Sonos, and other reputable brands – but which model is best for you?

For this list, we focused on the best smart speakers you can find with Alexa built-in. These speakers allow you to make calls to your contacts, play music from your favorite streaming service, set up smart home routines, and even have Alexa help guard your home. Take a look!

Save on everything from laptops and tablets, to coffee makers and air purifiers, and a whole host of Apple tech like iPad, Apple Watch and even the latest M3 MacBooks, as well as smart home essentials like the Amazon Echo and smart bulbs.

Sonos Era 100

Best Alexa speaker for the smart home

The Sonos Era 100 is the successor to the iconic Sonos One. It’s built with a faster processor, improved acoustics, and native support for Bluetooth.

One of the coolest features on the smart speaker is Trueplay tuning. Using the accompanying smartphone app, you can allow the device to automatically tune itself based on the acoustics of your room. The feature makes it easy to find the perfect sound without wading through dozens of menus and fiddling with a bunch of sliders.

How you control the device has also been reworked. Instead of using gestures on top of the unit (as was the case with the Sonos One), track selection and volume controls are now distinct buttons. They’re not backlit and can be a bit hard to see in the dark, but there's no doubt that it’s a big upgrade from the Sonos One.

Like most products in the Sonos catalog, the Era 100 isn’t cheap. But if you don’t mind its price tag, you’ll be well-served by this Amazon-enabled smart speaker.

Sonos One (Gen 2)

Runner-up

The Sonos One is an all-around incredible smart speaker, designed to sit on a shelf or counter and fill a room with sound. With the addition of Alexa, you can also tap into the voice assistant’s wide range of capabilities, like answering questions or scheduling reminders and timers. The speaker also works with Google Assistant, so there’s no need to pick a favorite unless you want to.

Like most smart speakers, the Sonos One does require a Wi-Fi connection for voice assistants to work, but it also supports Airplay 2 and other technologies, along with easy app controls if you don’t feel like using your voice. It can also link easily to another Sonos speaker or speaker system, allowing for innovative setups from being part of a home theater system to linking two speakers together for more stereo-like sound.

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

Best Alexa speaker for Amazon fans

Amazon’s flagship Echo device doesn’t disappoint with its new orb-like design that still has great 360-degree sound for the size. The speaker works solely via the Alexa app, so you don’t have to worry about juggling apps to get what you want.

The rounded design is also in the speaker’s favor, making it easy to put anywhere and giving it graceful indicators like the LED base to show notifications and more. Amazon also has both a battery base accessory so that you don’t need to keep the speaker near an outlet and a wall mount if you don’t want to place the Echo on a counter — options that are rarely native to smart speakers.

Amazon Echo Studio

Best Alexa speaker for audiophiles

Those primarily interested in sound may already have invested in a high-quality audio system or started listening to more spatial audio songs: The Echo Studio is a great companion to this setup with its focus on music and a larger design featuring five internal speakers to cover bass, midrange, and highs more completely. The speaker also includes sensors that can adapt the audio to the nearby acoustics no matter where you decide to place the speaker.

For those who have a host of smart devices, the Studio is also one of the only Alexa speakers left that can support the older Zigbee smart protocol, which may be important for controlling certain devices in your home. This is also a good time to mention that Alexa allows you to choose a default music service to play from including Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and more, which makes giving song-related commands a lot easier.

Amazon Echo Show 15

Best Alexa smart display

The Echo Show line adds a touchscreen to the Echo speaker, something we really like for its expanded options – you can use it to watch shows, view a photo slideshow, video chat, and do a whole lot more. While the Echo Show 10 was a fine example, its rotating display certainly wasn’t for everyone. But the Echo Show 15 is a massive improvement: The screen is larger than ever at 15 inches, and it sports a versatile design that allows you to hang the Show 15 on a wall or stand it on a counter.

These qualities make the Echo Show 15 one of the best smart displays we’ve seen to date, especially when you want to use it to watch shows or as an interactive wall calendar or – well, so much more. It fits well in a kitchen, office, hallway, or similar spot in the home. Just remember to keep it within arm’s reach, and purchase the stand if you need it.

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

Best Alexa smart speaker

The Echo Dot 4 was a vast improvement to the Echo Dot line, staying affordable while offering surprisingly big sound for its size. But the Echo Dot 5th-generation made even more improvements to the model, making it a better fit for a smart home.

Let’s start with the model options: There’s an LED version you can use as an alarm clock in places like the bedroom and a kids' version with colorful skins and a subscription to Amazon’s kids' content. The new speaker is also equipped with extra sensors to detect when someone has entered a room, allowing you to link it to things like smart lights or thermostat changes when people come home.

There’s even compatibility with Eero’s mesh Wi-Fi network system (now also owned by Amazon), so the speaker can act as a Wi-Fi extender for spots in the house that may not be getting good coverage. Really, it’s amazing what the speaker can do for the price.

Bose Home Speaker 500

Best high-end Alexa speaker

Those who want a little of everything may finally find their perfect solution in this Bose model. It’s a large speaker that produces seriously impressive sound and supports both Alexa and Google Assistant. There are also more sound options than most smart speakers with touch panel presets for your favorite music options and adjustments via the Bose Music app.

The speaker even has a little mini display that can display the current song and some album artwork, making it easy to show off at parties and other get-togethers. But all these features do come at a price, and it’s no surprise this there's a hefty price tag here too.

Sonos Roam

Best portable speaker with Alexa support

If you want to bring your smart speaker on the road with you, then look no further than the Sonos Roam. Offering a waterproof design, impressive sound, and full support for Amazon Alexa, few portable speakers can match the spec sheet of the Sonos Roam. It’s also relatively affordable, clocking in under $200.

Because it’s built by Sonos, you know you’re getting a product that can pump out incredible sound despite its tiny footprint. Much of that is due to its accompanying smartphone app that lets you adjust its settings on the fly, along with an Automatic Trueplay feature that optimizes performance based on the acoustics of your surroundings.

Toss in multiple available colors, a battery that runs for ten hours on a single charge, and a simple setup process, and you’ve got one of the best portable Amazon Alexa smart speakers money can buy.

Echo Pop

Best affordable speaker with Alexa support

Clocking in at just $40, the Echo Pop offers much more than its price tag would suggest. Access to the Alexa voice assistant is the biggest selling point, but its audio output is no slouch – although it does start to get a bit distorted at higher volumes. It also comes with Eero built in, making your wireless connections better than ever. A vareity of color options are available, and if you're looking for an affordable way to bring Alexa integrations into your home, the Pop deserves a much closer look. It might not be a great fit for audiophiles, but it's well-suited for playing background music as you work.

Sonos Era 300

Best Alexa speaker for home theaters

The Sonos Era 300 is one of the existing additions to the Sonos catalog. Building on the success of the Sonos One, the Era 300 offers incredible, immersive, room-filling sound that makes it both a great smart speaker and addition to your home theater. Its design is a bit quirkier than others on this list (boasting a unique hourglass shape), but its size allows it to pack in premium drivers that churn out crisp audio. Best of all, it features built-in support for Alexa. So if you’re looking for a premium smart speaker and don’t mind the large footprint, you can’t do better than this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you looking for something a little more portable that still works with Alexa? Take a look at our current best picks for portable smart speakers. You’re likely to find some options that support the voice assistant.

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