Sora-iina and Toyota Tsusho: A New Era of Medicine Delivery
This piece is shared with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.
Toyota Tsusho and Sora-iina have made a leap forward by testing drones for delivering medications to the Gotō Islands.
These companies, part of the larger Toyota family, have been using drones since 2022 to deliver medicines, but there was a catch. Previously, they operated Level 3 flights, meaning drones flew beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) over empty areas. Patients had to go to drone ports to collect their medicines.
Now, Level 4 flights aim to drop medicines right at people’s doorsteps. This reduces the hassle for elderly patients, who find it tough to reach pickup spots. Usually, a mobile clinic visits homes, prescribes medicine, and couriers bring it the next day. But with drones, meds can fly straight from the pharmacy to the clinic, cutting out the wait.
It’s neat to see how technology can make life easier for people who really need it.
The latest tests used Japan’s first authorized fully autonomous Level 4 drone, the ACSL PF2-CAT3. With help from the Nagasaki Prefecture government, Tamanoura Clinic, and Nagasaki University, these flights showed promise. This tiny drone, built for short distances, carries up to 1.5 kg and flies for about 15 minutes. Last year, it was used in a project to tackle delivery delays caused by Tokyo’s busy streets.
Looking ahead, Toyota Tsusho and Sora-iina aim to make these flights regular, easing access to meds for Gotō Islands’ elderly residents. Until then, more tests will show how drones can support Japan’s aging population and the medical field.
For further details and the original press release, click here (in Japanese).
