UPS Uses Drones to Transport Medical Samples across Hospital System

UPS, a Council member, has begun to use unmanned drones in the transportation of medical samples at a North Carolina hospital system, WakeMed. This effort is part of the company’s plan to incorporate drones into its delivery of supplies and samples to medical facilities.

UPS has rolled out this new program by partnering with Matternet, a drone-logistics startup. This has allowed medical samples to be shuttled across the scattered facilities of the hospital system. Medical workers load drones with medial specimens and send them flying along predetermined flight paths to central labs. While in flight, the drones are monitored by remote drone pilots.

In a statement, UPS said, “Currently the majority of medical samples and specimens are transported across WakeMed’s expanding health system by courier cars. The addition of drone transport provides an option for on-demand and same-day delivery, the ability to avoid roadway delays, increase medical delivery efficiency, lower costs and improve the patient experience with potentially life-saving benefits.”

The NEC applauds UPS for taking the initiative with this critical new technology, and for paving the way for other programs where drones will be instrumental.