Innovative Drone Tests for Medical Deliveries in Tokyo’s Busy Skies
This article is a collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.
The Tokyo government has begun testing drones to deliver medical supplies in the city, marking the first BVLOS trials where one pilot managed two drones simultaneously.
This project aims to solve delivery delays due to traffic congestion in this massive metropolis. The tests used ACSL’s Airtruck and PF2-CAT3 UAVs between late October and early November, featuring mostly autonomous and fully autonomous flights within Tokyo.
Drones first flew to Hinode Village, a rural spot in the Okutama Mountains, illustrating how these areas might benefit from drone deliveries from city-based medical centers. Tokyo plans to expand these services across the prefecture.
-
AirTruck Drone:
- Developed by Aeronext and ACSL
- Carries up to 5kg over 20km
- Previously tested in Mongolia for similar purposes
- PF2-CAT3 Drone:
- First Japanese drone with Class 1 certification
- Completed over 11 successful autonomous flights in 2023
The tests were backed by several companies, including KDDI Corporation, Japan Airlines, and East Japan Railway Company.
More details are available here (in Japanese).
Sometimes, we wonder how technology will reshape the future of deliveries.
