Project CAELUS led by AGS Airports in partnership with NHS Scotland has taken a step forward by conducting live flight trials in bid to deliver the UK’s first national medical distribution network using drones, says the press release.
Live flying took place between Glasgow Airport and NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank earlier this week.
CAELUS (Care & Equity – Healthcare Logistics UAS Scotland), is part funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge. It brings together 16 partners including the University of Strathclyde, Skyports Drone Services, NATS and NHS Scotland. Together they are working to deliver what will be the first national drone network that can transport essential medicines, bloods and other medical supplies throughout Scotland including to remote communities.
Since January 2020, the CAELUS consortium has designed drone landing stations for NHS sites across Scotland and developed a virtual model (digital twin) of the proposed delivery network which connects hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres and GP surgeries across Scotland.
Live flight trials were operated by CAELUS consortium member Skyports Drone Services. The UK-based operator is an experienced provider of drone delivery, survey and monitoring services. The company has a long history of operating medical drone deliveries, including the first drone deliveries with the NHS.
The CAELUS consortium comprises:
- AGS Airports Limited
- ANRA Technologies UK
- Arup
- AtkinsRéalis
- Cellnex UK
- Commonplace Digital
- Connected Places Catapult
- DGP Intelsius
- Dronamics
- NATS
- NHS Scotland
- Plane Finder
- Skyports Drone Services
- The Drone Office
- Trax International
- University of Strathclyde
Further detail including video content on Project CAELUS is available here
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