Problem statement
The healthcare sector is incrementally shifting to a centralized ecosystem to remain cost-efficient in an ever more demanding market. To exploit the benefits of economies of scale and minimize waste of medicines, many healthcare institutions have centralised or subcontracted the production of specific medicines, the analysis of clinical specimens, and stock keeping of blood, medicine and vaccines. These same healthcare institutions are responsible for the in-time delivery of urgent medical supplies with expiration dates - such as antibiotics and blood and urine samples - and the transport of blood or infusion bags in trauma situations. This presents a logistical problem affecting critical operations. Further complicating this scenario is the effect (the high rate of) urbanisation is having on road congestion. Hospitals are usually located in densely populated areas meaning their emergency transport road vehicles compete with traffic during urgent deliveries.
The current solution - road transport - is not tailored to the relatively small quantities needed in urgent deliveries; SABCA (aerospace, Belgium) indicates that 90% of all emergency deliveries to hospitals can be covered with a 1.5kg payload. The current vehicles make for a resource-intensive option in respect to time, staff, and emissions. A zero-emission (network of) drone(s) which can autonomously fly the shortest route to destination, with a payload catered to emergency healthcare delivery cargo, presents an ideal solution to these logistical issues.
Importance to society
The number of urgent medical transports and, thus, patients which the SkySaver solution can impact is significant. To take the Netherlands as an example, the Dutch blood bank alone conducts over 1,000 emergency deliveries per year - that equates to 3 per day.
In the delivery of urgent medical care it is critical that goods are transported quickly, maintain their integrity, and can be delivered at any time. An autonomous drone network can ensure this is possible while using fewer resources than current solutions. Avy’s commitment to a zero-emission solution is particularly impactful when replacing polluting solutions such as vans or helicopters. Furthermore, drone networks form an efficient connection between remote populations and health services, increasing access to healthcare.
Overall objectives
The output of this programme is a significantly upscaled version of Avy’s medical use case aircraft, namely a regulation-compliant eVTOL equipped with a medical cargo box fit for cold-chain deliveries. The SkySaver autonomous drone network solution is made possible by a docking station, another programme output.
The objective is to enable clients to use the SkySaver solution to increase the efficiency and positive impact of their urgent medical deliveries. Such deliveries include the transport of clinical specimens, blood and infusion bags, pharmaceutical supplies, drugs and vaccines from and to hospitals, laboratories and production facilities.
In the development and roll-out of this product Avy intends to also contribute to increased public acceptance of such drone operations through its media coverage of successful SkySaver operations (by clients) and the impact thereof.
