Volansi launches commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina

October 20, 2020 | AUVSI News

Volansi Inc. has launched a commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina.

In collaboration with pharmaceutical company Merck, Volansi is testing the delivery of cold chain medicines from Merck’s Wilson, North Carolina manufacturing site to Vidant Healthplex-Wilson, a Vidant Health clinic, as the first of three phases in a project to learn about how drone technology can improve access to healthcare. 

Accessing care in Eastern North Carolina can be challenging because of its vast and rural environment. During initial flights in the project, the first drone delivery of temperature-controlled medicines within the U.S were made.

“We’ve seen the world’s supply chain strained like never before from the impact of Coronavirus,” explains Hannan Parvizian, CEO and co-founder of Volansi.

“There’s now an accelerated need for rapid advancements in supply chain technology, especially in healthcare. Drone delivery is one solution to getting critical supplies where they are needed, at the moment they are needed most.”

Volansi’s all-electric VOLY C10 drone is being used during the project. Capable of carrying 10-pounds of cargo to locations up to 50 miles away, the VOLY C10’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system allows it to deliver fragile cargo with a “soft touch” automated release once the drone has landed at the delivery location. Requiring minimal infrastructure to operate, the VTOL system can deliver on the returning flight items to support order confirmation like temperature trackers and shipping confirmation.

“As a healthcare leader, Merck is very supportive of collaborations using new technologies to explore how one day we could help better serve the healthcare community,” says Craig Kennedy, senior vice president, Global Supply Chain Management, Merck.

“Our existing distribution system is strong, and this pilot helps us explore new innovative delivery options that would complement our existing supply chain capabilities.”

To ensure that its deliveries are made safely and in accordance with state and federal guidelines, Volansi is working with the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). For phases two and three of the project, the company will seek additional approval from the FAA to provide deliveries in additional locations, which will enable a flexible, on-demand, and responsive supply of critical medicines.

Photo below: ​Volansi, the leader in middle-mile drone delivery services, announces it has begun a commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina with Merck. The project utilizes Volansi’s VOLY C10, an all-electric drone capable of carrying 10-pounds of cargo to locations up to 50 miles away. The VOLY C10’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system allows it to deliver fragile cargo with a “soft touch” automated release once the drone has landed at the delivery location. Photo: PRNewswire