A drone service to support the Isle of Wight NHS in the UK
A drone service to support the Isle of Wight NHS in the UK
With interest in drone delivery growing throughout the world, this study explores the challenges associated with developing a medical drone logistics service to support the National Health Service on the Isle of Wight in the UK. Two separate trials were undertaken to investigate the potential for drone delivery in this area, carrying medical goods and aseptic cancer medicines. The first trial took place using a fixed-wing drone during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, whilst the second used hybrid fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone. Key findings suggested that electric VTOL drones present significant advantages in terms of point-to-point direct servicing, emissions, and time-savings, though range and payload limitations introduce further challenges. Legislation, airspace management, and technology findings were also made, with legacy regulations causing barriers to carriage of medical goods by drone. Future work seeks to understand the costs and benefits of a more sustained service in a medical setting.
Oakey, Andy
dfd6e317-1e6d-429c-a3e0-bc80e92787d1
Cherrett, Thomas
e5929951-e97c-4720-96a8-3e586f2d5f95
30 May 2022
Oakey, Andy
dfd6e317-1e6d-429c-a3e0-bc80e92787d1
Cherrett, Thomas
e5929951-e97c-4720-96a8-3e586f2d5f95
Oakey, Andy and Cherrett, Thomas
(2022)
A drone service to support the Isle of Wight NHS in the UK.
In Proceedings of the 14th ITS European Congress, Toulouse, France 30 May-1 June 2022.
ITS Europe..
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Conference or Workshop Item
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Abstract
With interest in drone delivery growing throughout the world, this study explores the challenges associated with developing a medical drone logistics service to support the National Health Service on the Isle of Wight in the UK. Two separate trials were undertaken to investigate the potential for drone delivery in this area, carrying medical goods and aseptic cancer medicines. The first trial took place using a fixed-wing drone during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, whilst the second used hybrid fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone. Key findings suggested that electric VTOL drones present significant advantages in terms of point-to-point direct servicing, emissions, and time-savings, though range and payload limitations introduce further challenges. Legislation, airspace management, and technology findings were also made, with legacy regulations causing barriers to carriage of medical goods by drone. Future work seeks to understand the costs and benefits of a more sustained service in a medical setting.
Text
UAV IOW Trials ITS Toulouse 2022 v2
- Author's Original
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Published date: 30 May 2022
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Local EPrints ID: 469173
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/469173
PURE UUID: e80d073e-9b33-4cea-9556-0ee1ff4f2e20
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Date deposited: 08 Sep 2022 17:07
Last modified: 24 Apr 2024 02:03
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Author:
Andy Oakey
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