An experimental drone delivery system for medical supplies is being implemented in the United Kingdom and will last six months – the project is funded by Innovate UK.
The Midlands-based consortium is led by Skyfarer and includes O2, Cranfield University, Altitude Angel and Phoenix Wing. The aim is to transport “Covid-19 supplies, pathology samples and blood transfusions” via a connected national drone network.
The consortium claims that this experimental drone delivery system for medical supplies will develop smarter, faster, safer and greener supply chains: transport accounts for 34% of net CO2 emissions in the UK and heavy goods vehicles account for 17% of domestic transport emissions.
A similar test was carried out by Deutsche Telekom, in partnership with the university town of Siegen, last summer, and another for purposes that could include medical supplies and emergency services by Vodafone and Ericsson, also in Germany last year.
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The UK project has received an operating permit for extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) operations with an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from the Civil Aviation Authority, so the consortium can carry out short-range flight demonstrations as part of the project.
They will test the drone's capabilities in logistics: technological tests will take place after Easter and delivery tests in the summer.
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The project is funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and aims to pave the way for harnessing the power of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to revolutionise the delivery of healthcare services and develop smarter, safer, greener supply chains that have no impact on traffic congestion and do not increase fossil fuel emissions.
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Around 2.5 million units of blood are processed and distributed in the UK each year. According to the statement: “The consortium’s drone delivery system promises faster turnaround times for autonomous deliveries, which can be processed at any time and therefore provide a more reliable delivery service to meet the supply and processing needs of hospitals and medical centres across the country.”
Information source: mobileeurope.co.uk
