These small drones will carry medicine to Rwanda

A California-based start-up wants to change the medical situation for parts of the world where access to essential medical products is limited, often because of the terrain and gaps in infrastructure.

According to the company, Zipline, over 2.9 million children under the age of five die every year in these areas, and up to 150,000 pregnancy-related deaths could be avoided annually if mothers had reliable access to safe blood.

So the company turned the growing field of unmanned aerial vehicles and developed a small robotic airplane that can carry vaccines, medicine, and blood, called Zip.

Zip was designed for safe flight using many of the same approaches as commercial airliners. It can carry vaccines, medicine, or blood. Zip’s creators claim that, even with no roads, a fleet of Zips can even provide for a population of millions.

How it works

According to The New York Times, the 15 drones that make up the system will be able to undergo up to 150 deliveries per day using GPS receivers and can even withstand 30 mph winds.

A health worker from the area in need can place an order via text message and within minutes, a Zip is prepared and launched into the sky. The drone flies at about 60 mph, faster than any other transportation in that area, and does not require any piloting.  The medical products are expelled from the drone, landing gently at the health-care facility in a small open area.

Zipline has partnered with the Government of Rwanda and will begin delivering all blood products for 20 hospitals and health centers starting in July. Rwanda is just the beginning — Zipline wants to engage with more areas in need.

Learn more on the company’s website.