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WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF

Drone company Zipline takes to the skies to deliver medical care packages.

 

San Francisco based startup, Zipline, is about to begin testing its drone delivery system intended to deliver medical supplies to remote areas of the US, and then eventually to the rest of the world this week.

While it’s still pending FAA approval, which in the light of Seven Eleven’s recent flight for a less auspicious cargo of donuts, seems almost certain, Zipline’s drones will aim to demonstrate just how much of an important role drones could play in distributing critical care supplies. During its initial trials the company is going to fly to areas including Smith Island, Maryland and the Pyramid Lake Tribal Health Clinic in Nevada, where it will deliver items such as blood, medicine, and other medical products.

 

 

This isn’t Zipline’s first foray into the drone delivery business though, in April they partnered with UPS to deliver critical care products into Rwanada but, as far as the US goes they’re going to be partnering with Ellumen and ASD Healthcare as well as the non-profit organisation Bloodworks Northwest.

The company, who’s also designed its own  drone which can launch up to a hundred times a day have developed their own low cost, portable launch and landing system and they’re backed by $19 million in venture capital investments from prestigious companies and individuals such as Google Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yan.

While this initial piece of testing will be conducted in the US the company’s main focus is the African market where they’ll be championing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for “health based” logistics services but, in the long term it looks increasingly likely that we’ll see these sorts of systems being used to deliver critical care packages in and around the US.

About author

Matthew Griffin

Matthew Griffin, described as “The Adviser behind the Advisers” and a “Young Kurzweil,” is the founder and CEO of the World Futures Forum and the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures consultancy working between the dates of 2020 to 2070, and is an award winning futurist, and author of “Codex of the Future” series. Regularly featured in the global media, including AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, RT, Viacom, and WIRED, Matthew’s ability to identify, track, and explain the impacts of hundreds of revolutionary emerging technologies on global culture, industry and society, is unparalleled. Recognised for the past six years as one of the world’s foremost futurists, innovation and strategy experts Matthew is an international speaker who helps governments, investors, multi-nationals and regulators around the world envision, build and lead an inclusive, sustainable future. A rare talent Matthew’s recent work includes mentoring Lunar XPrize teams, re-envisioning global education and training with the G20, and helping the world’s largest organisations envision and ideate the future of their products and services, industries, and countries. Matthew's clients include three Prime Ministers and several governments, including the G7, Accenture, Aon, Bain & Co, BCG, Credit Suisse, Dell EMC, Dentons, Deloitte, E&Y, GEMS, Huawei, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Lego, McKinsey, PWC, Qualcomm, SAP, Samsung, Sopra Steria, T-Mobile, and many more.

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