The Achievement of Johns Hopkins researchers or the New Distance Record for Drone Transport Leave a comment
The Achievement of Johns Hopkins researchers or the New Distance Record for Drone Transport
These days, the thing that drones can be used as the delivery option is not anything new or strange. Nevertheless, John Hopkins researchers managed to set a new distance record – human blood samples were delivered by drones across 161 miles of desert.
Drone shipment is gradually developing. Though right now such transportation mean is not widely spread and in some countries it is still in the development stage, it is a well-known fact that the drone delivery can lower carbon footprint. This is an excellent solution to deliver goods in remote distances where it is impossible to get by car, train or another mode of transport.
John Hopkins researchers achieved great results because they managed to deliver human blood samples across the desert. The blood samples were maintained in proper conditions throughout a three-hour flight.
The American Journal of Clinical Pathology published the article about these researchers in June print edition. The investigators confirmed that drones are regarded to be the most efficacious, safe and fast transport vehicle which can be used to deliver medical samples from remote distances to laboratories.
Timothy Amukele, one of the members of the team of Hopkins confessed that drone air transport is the quickest and the safest method which can be used for the shipment of biological samples. Mostly, this transport facility can be widely used in a rural area. These days, it is impossible to fix all problems of the 21st century like poor roads. Drones can easily get to the most remote distances.
The achievements of John Hopkins Researchers
After the successful test, we can see the following results: 84 samples that were collected in pairs at the University of Arizona were driven 76 miles to an airfield. Each sample from every pair was put on a drone, which flew them more than 160 miles. Regardless of the fact that right now people buy drones only with the aim to make aerial footage, very soon everything can be changed.
It stands to mention that the team of John Hopkins studied the influence of the drone transportation method on chemical and microbial makeup of the samples that underwent the shipment by a drone. Right now, the team is going to expand its project and continue learning this subject in the USA and abroad.
Precautionary Measures
As for this aspect, it stands to mention that this test was made far from populated areas. Besides, each drone was controlled by a remote pilot. There also was the ground control station, which controlled the situation. All blood samples were packed properly and delivered following the rules of IATA.
The Hopkins team developed a special chamber, which controlled the temperature of samples. To control the temperature, the chamber uses electrical power of a drone. If the weather is cold and it is necessary to warm the chamber, it is also possible to do this.
All blood samples were delivered to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale where they underwent through an overstrict check. They were compared to non-flown samples. The difference was inconspicuous.
What type of a drone did transport the blood samples?
In this study was used a Latitude Engineering HQ-40 drone. This quadcopter has a unique feature – it can easily take off vertically and then make a transition to an ordinary horizontal flight. The prime objective of this aircraft is to fly for medical purposes. It can land in small spaces and can fly between remote facilities.
We see that results are more than just successful. So, we hope that very soon, people living in remote distances will have much better quality of medical aid.
