UK CAELUS | NHS Scotland UTM and Medical Drone Delivery
Published:
January 28, 2025
Category:
Airspace Integration
Client:
UK, Scotland
UK CAELUS | NHS Scotland UTM and Medical Drone Delivery
CAELUS project aimed to revolutionise the medical logistics market through the use of drones, with ANRA Technologies playing a pivotal role in the development and physical demonstration of the Airspace Conops, development of the UTM-ATM integration and the trials. Over a period of 3 years, the CAELUS project successfully developed and validated drone-based medical deliveries in Scotland through multiple daily flights between hospitals in Ayrshire, Lothian and Aberdeenshire.
These were preceded by Test and evaluation flights that took place between Glasgow Airport and NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank on October 31, 2023.
ANRA participated in all 4 test and trials phases of the project through the provision of its cutting-edge Delivery Management System and advanced Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) platform, ANRA seamlessly integrates customers, drone operators, and airspace managers, ensuring efficient, safe, and reliable operations for life-saving deliveries. CAELUS world first for ANRA included:
Our UTM supported a 110km BVLOS flight from Aberdeen to Elgin conducted using a Rigitech Eiger drone. This was the longest onshore flight in the UK.
Our Delivery Management system provided seamless connectivity of order and transport management, supporting over 40 BVLOS flights across all the flight trials.
Developed UTM-to-ATM integration with NATS to demonstrate digital communications during the trials in Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
Key Scenarios used in the flight trial:
Reduce delivery times for critical healthcare materials such as blood, medicine, medical supplies, and laboratory samples from 2–2.5 hours by road to just 80 minutes, enhancing patient care.
Improve healthcare access in remote communities by transporting simulated oncology products closer to patients’ homes, significantly improving their treatment experience and reducing travel burdens.
Expedite emergency care with faster transit of blood and lab samples to and from regional laboratories for analysis, leading to quicker treatment for patients in critical conditions.
Connect drone delivery systems with medical facilities, creating one ecosystem system for ordering and delivering health care materials.