With the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration, United Parcel Service (UPS) has now launched the first of its autonomous drone fleet to deliver medical supplies in Raleigh, North Carolina. The unmanned UPS delivery drones were established through a partnership with drone startup company Matternet. UPS plans to make the first of its deliveries of various medical supplies to the WakeMed hospital in Raleigh.
UPS also sought the approval of the state's department of transportation before it got the service up and running. The initial deliveries will be routine daily flights to and from WakeMed hospital to deliver various medical items. Prior to the establishment of the drone fleet, the medical supplies were hand delivered through the company's various courier vehicles, which were often subjected to delays caused by traffic, roadblocks, and road accidents.
Certain medial items such as blood samples and vital medication need to arrive at their destinations without delay. Through the service, these items can reach the hospital and its facilities in record time. The drones used in the service typically follow a predetermined path through the sky to reach a landing pad within the hospital.
UPS and Matternet are using the initial flights as a staging ground to further improve the drone's programming and its flight paths. Both companies are also studying the possibility of implementing the same autonomous drone delivery systems throughout different hospitals around the country.
According to UPS VP of Advanced Technology Group, Bala Ganesh, the unmanned aerial drones used in the hospital can greatly increase the efficiencies of different businesses. Another great benefit of using the system is decreased cost, which will, in turn, provide additional growth.
Matternet has been testing out its commercial drones since August of last year as part of the FAA's IPP drone program. The company has had substantial financial backing, with a US$16 million investment acquired in the last year alone. Matternet got the majority of its new capital from a substantial investment from Boeing's Horizon X Ventures. The company had also conducted more than 1,700 test flights in Switzerland, delivery patient samples to different hospitals in densely populated areas.
Matternet's CEO Andreas Taptopoulos mentioned in a recent statement that his company was very excited to work with UPS. The partnership is apparently aimed at further elevating the on-demand logistics industry, specifically for the healthcare systems in the United States. The executive pointed out that the technology they provide will result in overall improved patient care and a significant amount in operational savings for medical institutions.
