Delivering Medical Products to Quarantined Regions Using UnmannedAerial Vehicles

Abstract

Unmanned aerial Vehicles (UAVs) possess the capacity to transport goods quickly, safely, and inexpensively across both accessible and inaccessible terrains such as to stranded mountain climbers or boats adrift. Medical supplies are typically delivered by ground transport as well as aircraft, both fixed and rotor wing. During emergencies, the availability of blood products and pharmaceuticals is often limited at critical access hospitals, and conventional channels of supply may become disrupted. This article aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using small UAVs to transport pharmaceutical products to epidemic-stricken regions. A Syma X5-c quadcopter was loaded with a sample drug. Using its accompanying transmitter, the drone was flown from a base location to a pre-determined delivery location. Upon successful delivery of the drug, the drone was navigated back to base by the operator. Future improvements to the drone model include facial identification system to verify recipients before delivery, auto-pilot control of drone with the aid of an on-board computer program and a GPS unit, real-time picture, and video relay/transmission back to control station, and autonomous delivery of drug without requiring physical contact from the recipient.