Swiss hospitals deliver blood drones
Two hospitals in the Swiss city Lugano began to use postal quadcopters for delivery of samples of biological material and other light loads. About it reports The Verge.
Sometimes samples of biological material (e.g. blood) need to be promptly delivered to the laboratory for analysis. Typically, the collected samples are taken to the car, but in the city the traffic situation is not always predictable, so the search for other methods of transporting samples relevant.
Two hospitals in Lugano with the support of Swiss post have started to use the transport Matternet quadrocopter for delivery of blood samples and other similar goods. The vehicle test of the system began in mid-March and at the moment the post the drones have already made test flights 70. The hospital staff loaded into the drone container material and activate the delivery via the mobile app, after which the quadcopter alone follows the route.
Swiss post started to test the delivery of light loads using small drones in 2015. For delivery used quadcopters Matternet ONE designed especially for transporting small loads. Matternet ONE can carry loads up to one kilogram for a distance of 20 kilometers, the maximum speed of the drone is 36 kilometers per hour. The drone is able to bend around a building or area closed to flights, and in case of failure of electronics or motors, the drone is equipped with a parachute.
This is not the first use of drones in medicine. For example, in 2016 in Madagascar company Vayu has started to use drones to transport samples of blood and feces, and in Rwanda company Zipline has started to use drones to transport medical supplies and blood for transfusions. In addition, EHang plans to build a thousand modified passenger multicopter for Autonomous transportation of grafts.
Nikolai Vorontsov