Drone Program for COVID-19 Era
This post is also available in: 
עברית (Hebrew)
The UK Space Agency has backed a healthcare drone start-up that aims to help in the response to COVID-19. The medical drone delivery service will transport coronavirus samples, test kits and protective equipment between hospitals.
Apian, a start-up project founded by trainee doctors, can help free up healthcare staff, avoid courier waiting times and minimize the risk of virus transmission.
Forming part of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Program, Apian aims to establish a network of secure air corridors for electric drones which can carry COVID-19 samples, test-kits and PPE. .
The hybrid drones — which have the rotors of a typical drone and the wings of a plane — can carry a maximum of 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) and fly about 60 miles (96 kilometers.)
Their developers are trialing “dronepad” infrastructure so the miniature aircraft can take off from and land on hospitals, laboratories and warehouses. They are planning to scale up the trials and set up a nationwide network of secure air corridors to enable the drone delivery service to work safely across National Health Service sites – the UK’s NHS Air Grid (NAG).
Apian is creating these corridors by working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, UK Space Agency and the emergency services, according to businesscloud.co.uk.
The drone project is among others set to share 1.3 million pounds ($1.7 million) of funding from the U.K. Space Agency and the European Space Agency to businesses developing space-based solutions for challenges created by Covid-19, according to abcnews.go.com.
