MassDOT’s Aeronautics Division introduced the profitable completion of assessments for the usage of drones for medical deliveries Monday — advancing one other potential use of the unmanned aircrafts in Massachusetts.
“This medical delivery demonstration underscores the value of drones for many operational needs,” mentioned MassDOT Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “Drones have already proven useful in operations, including MBTA track corridor inspections, MassDOT Highway bridge inspections, overhead project evaluations, and other needs. We continue to assess the use of drones for other purposes in the future.”
Three firms accomplished profitable assessments during which drones carried out medical supply demonstrations transporting packages of as much as 10 kilos from August to October 2024, MassDOT reported Monday.
The assessments had been meant to “explore and assess the future use of drones, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, (UAS) for small package delivery,” the division mentioned. The main target was on deliveries regarding home-based healthcare and emergency medical response.
Drones are presently used via MassDOT Aeronautics throughout a number of state businesses, together with the transportation division, MBTA, and the Massachusetts Emergency Administration Company (MEMA). The state’s drones, via MassDOT Aeronautics’ Drone Operations Program, “improve transportation safety, including for infrastructure inspection and incident response,” the division mentioned.
All through the assessments the collaborating drones carried the simulated payloads for a minimum of one mile, efficiently delivering the small packages, MassDOT detailed.
A number of firms, together with Amazon, DHL and FedEx have begun utilizing drones for package deal deliveries. Amazon experiences utilizing drones for deliveries of packages as much as 5 kilos in Faculty Station, Texas, and components of the Phoenix, Arizona space, relying on favorable climate situations.
“This demonstration project reflects our commitment to exploring the use of drones to meet critical needs, such as the timely, cost-effective delivery of supplies and devices for health care and emergency management, across the Commonwealth,” MassDOT Aeronautics Performing Administrator Denise Garcia mentioned.
The MassDOT announcement comes months after a rash of drone sightings throughout Massachusetts, in addition to different northeastern states, a couple of arrests associated to the operation of drones, and proposals associated to the regulation of the aircrafts within the Bay State.
