The Drone Integration Program has been creating buzz around different parts of the country. Cities like Louisville, Kentucky plan on utilizing drone fleets for security purposes; being first responders in an incident to scope out an area and get an aerial view of the situation. While a number of cities and local branches zone in on drone capabilities to complement their security, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) eyes the delivery capabilities of these drones, especially when it comes to medical supplies.
The NCDOT has mentioned that the local area has been considering using drone technology for a while now. They have approached private companies with the intent of getting distribution facilities for their drone medical delivery plans. North Carolina Director of Aviation, Bobby Walson, had this to say: “We’re really excited that drone technology may allow doctors and hospitals to save more lives in North Carolina soon. We’ve been researching and investing in drone technology for years at NCDOT. This proposal represents the next big step for us as we remain a national leader in the UAS field.”
Speaking of medical delivery drones, outside the US, the city of Lugano in Switzerland had started utilizing drones for medical deliveries since September of last year. With company Matternet, they started using drones to deliver blood samples and other medical supplies to and from clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities all over their area.
As you know, the medical field’s inevitable enemy is time. From organ transplants, to medicine needed to be stored in certain temperatures, time is the enemy that can make or break any emergency situation at a hospital or clinic. North Carolina plans on having an edge in this game of time, with drones delivering the most crucial items from hospital to hospital, or to the field itself. Drones can be equipped to handle loads up to a quarter of a ton, and they can move at an unobstructed route towards their destination, making them a lot more efficient than normal means, such as land vehicle delivery or by foot.
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