Drones are making deliveries now

Credit: Zipline/BBC

Many have announced plans to implement delivery by drone, including Amazon, Domino’s, & Zookal (a textbook company in Sydney, Australia).

First to deliver (literally) is the Rwandan Ministry of Health – for supply of blood to hospitals. Technology is provided by a company called Zipline.

Drones are electric, fixed-wing, with a range of 150km.

Catapult launch improves range by supplying energy to lift the aircraft to altitude, instead of drawing it from the battery.

Similarly, dropping payload by parachute at the delivery end eliminates the energy requirement to regain altitude after a landing, & reduces infrastructure requirements.

Use of drones in Rwanda is an interesting parallel to the way that mobile communication is being used to bypass fixed communication infrastructure in many countries.



Aljazeera:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/rwanda-turns-drones-deliver-vital-blood-supplies-161014095632407.html

BBC:
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37646474

Zipline webpage:
http://flyzipline.com/product/ / Rwanda drones drone deliver vital blood supplies Rwanda launches drone delivery programme transport medical product remote parts country Rwanda launched launch drone delivery network transport vital blood supplies far-flung areas country project unmanned aerial vehicles drones deliver small packages parachute bypassing traffic washed-out roads country dubbed Land of a Thousand Hills introduced Friday Rwanda Rwanda's Muhanga district expand country early 2017 on demand drones make around 150 deliveries blood 21 facilities day Zipline company behind the project health professionals order emergency packages text message deliveries made approximately 30 minutes speaking launch President Paul Kagame use commercial drones transport essential medical products considered milestone Rwanda technology becomes relevant meaningful works for people addresses challenges they face President Kagame launching Zipline medical delivery drone Muhanga drones shaped like fat-bellied miniature plane two-metre wingspan battery-powered range 150km weigh 13kg carry cargo 1.5kg three bags of blood drones launched fired into the air using catapult deliveries biodegradable parachute Rwanda population 11 million people majority live hard-to-reach rural areas economic gains past decade most citizens still poor /