Articles
US robotics start-up Zipline has successfully completed a trial delivering blood for transfusions using fixed-wing drones in Rwanda, as part of its efforts to tackle poor access to medical products in developing countries.
The first Zipline drone to deliver blood and plasma to its destination was launched by the Rwandan president on 14 October.
Since then, the drones have been making up to 150 on-demand emergency trips to more than 21 blood-transfusion facilities in the west of the country.
The drones, called Zips, are located at Zipline’s distribution centre in western Rwanda, where the company maintains, and can remotely operate, its 15-strong fleet.
Orders can be placed by phone or text message, with the blood being delivered within 30 minutes. This method also helps to keep blood fresh for the patients in need, as it needs to be stored and transported at a specific temperature to avoid spoilage.
Each Zip drone can fly a round trip of up to 150km, unaffected by adverse weather conditions, and carry 1.5kg of blood.
To make the deliveries, the drones descend close to the ground and, at a designated spot, drop off the packages, which are attached to parachutes.
Keller Rinaudo, chief executive of Zipline, said: “The inability to deliver lifesaving medicines to the people who need them the most causes millions of preventable deaths each year around the world. Zipline will help solve that problem.
“We’ve built an instant delivery system for the world, allowing medicine to be delivered on-demand and at low cost, anywhere.”
Zipline is planning to expand its services to the east of the country in early 2017, giving all 11 million of Rwanda’s citizens quick access to medical aid, including vaccines.
In addition, in the coming year the company plans to launch operations across the rest of Africa and also in the US, where it will deliver medical products to remote Native American reservations.