Skyfarer - Autonomous medical logistics by drones

Imagine a world of autonomous Just In Time delivery with no impact on road congestion and no increase in fossil fuel emissions. The kind of delivery that can be carried out by a drone, fast and direct, applicable in any logistical application, from medicine to food, from organs to mobile phones. We have the technology to do this today.

Although organisations, NGOs, charities and companies see great value in using drones for logistics, they don't yet have access. They can go out and buy a drone, but they can't fly it commercially for logistical operations in the UK. For this, not only does the drone need to be understood on a technical level, but it also requires specific systems and regulatory approval to operate within UK airspace commercially and autonomously. We have the solution, and with the support of this funding, it will be robust, simple, and accessible.

Skyfarer's solution is a system of systems, neatly packaged into a robust operational process, leveraging the expertise and technology from our technical partners. It is a platform that allows any organisation to access an ecosystem of drones, to then be used in diverse logistical operations, safely, autonomously and cost effectively with very low capital investment. With this service, we can distribute medication, blood, test kits, food, digital devices and much more within a Just In Time operational framework with very low infrastructure.

This project is a prerequisite for the commercialisation and utilisation of this system. By obtaining initial approval from the CAA to conduct a short-range flight demonstration, we will begin to showcase the capabilities that Skyfarer and our partners have amassed with drones for logistics. Along with a feasibility study and scoping exercise, this will validate and enable the next phase of work with the creation of a drone corridor, allowing us to develop and implement autonomous UAV logistics services to deliver essential supplies like medicine, vaccines or food without the need for a person driving. This will reduce trips that would usually require travel and face to face contact in congested areas. Long term, it provides a blueprint for UAV based logistics service to be tested and implemented in other areas of the UK (and abroad), paving the way for widespread adoption of the technology, and positioning the UK at the forefront of an exciting emerging industry that's poised for growth.