If you’re in London this fall and you hear a faint buzzing noise overhead, that may be the sound of one of Google’s Wing drones carrying a load of fresh blood.
The company just announced that it’s partnering with the U.K.’s National Health Service and medical drone network provider Apian to run a trial that will see drones flying blood samples between two central London hospitals, Guy’s and St Thomas.
Beginning this fall and lasting approximately six months, the trial will focus on transporting time-sensitive blood samples that can’t afford to get stuck in city traffic. As the trial continues, Apian said it could expand to carry other pathology items, medicines and supplies.
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The Wing drone tapped to make the deliveries is crafted mostly out of foam, weighs around 11 pounds, carries packages weighing about 2 pounds, and will cruise 230 feet above London at about 62 miles per hour. The companies are anticipating no more than 10 flights per day with each flight only taking about two minutes, much shorter than the roughly 30 minutes it takes to drive between the two hospitals.
The whole operation will be overseen by a certified pilot in command but the drone flights will all be automated and directed to stay within pre-programmed flight paths. Google and Apian have already been granted air space approval by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the companies expect to conclude all final regulatory requirements before the trial begins later this fall.
This won’t be the two companies’ first time partnering on medical drone operations. Wing and Apian’s Dublin, Ireland medical supply service have been able to expedite the delivery of sutures and surgical tools.
Apian, which was spun out of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Program and founded by two doctors along with a former Google Health entrepreneur, has been testing medical drone deliveries in more rural parts of the U.K. But this will be the first time the company will fly its drones over London.
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WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
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If you're in London this fall and hear a faint
buzzing noise overhead,
00:03.349 --> 00:08.100
that may be the sound of one of Google's wing
drones carrying a fresh load of blood.
00:08.109 --> 00:12.310
The company just announced that it's partnering
with the U K's National Health Service and
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Medical drone network provider, Apian to run a
trial that will see drones flying blood samples
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between two central London hospitals guys and
Saint Thomas beginning this fall and lasting
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approximately six months.
The trial will focus on transporting time
00:27.200 --> 00:28.350
sensitive blood samples.
00:28.552 --> 00:32.672
They can't afford to get stuck in city traffic
as the trial continues.
00:32.782 --> 00:36.141
Apian said it could expand to carry other
pathology items,
00:36.152 --> 00:40.341
medicines and supplies.
The wing drone tap to make the deliveries is
00:40.352 --> 00:45.782
crafted mostly out of foam, weighs around 11
pounds, carries packages weighing up to about
00:45.791 --> 00:51.582
two pounds and will cruise 230 ft above London
at about 62 MPH.
00:51.591 --> 00:56.111
The companies are anticipating no more than 10
flights per day with each flight taking only
00:56.122 --> 01:00.883
about two, much shorter than the roughly 30
minutes it takes to drive between the two
01:00.894 --> 01:03.953
hospitals.
The whole operation will be overseen by a
01:03.964 --> 01:08.314
certified pilot in command.
But the drone flights will all be automated and
01:08.323 --> 01:11.103
directed to stay within preprogrammed flight
paths.
01:11.344 --> 01:16.774
Google and A PN have already been granted
airspace approval by the UK Civil Aviation
01:16.783 --> 01:20.083
Authority.
And the companies expect to conclude all final
01:20.094 --> 01:24.054
regulatory requirements before the trial begins.
Later this fall.
01:24.064 --> 01:29.316
This won't be the two companies his first time
partnering on medical drone operations Wing and
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api's Dublin Ireland Medical Supply Service
have already been able to expedite the delivery
01:34.816 --> 01:40.066
of sutures and surgical tools.
Apian which was spun out of the NHS Clinical
01:40.075 --> 01:45.725
Entrepreneur program and founded by two doctors
along with a former Google health entrepreneur
01:45.736 --> 01:49.805
has been testing medical drone deliveries in
more rural parts of the UK.
01:50.096 --> 01:53.646
But this will be the first time the company
will fly its drones over London.
01:53.940 --> 01:56.040
I'm Ben Munson and this is manufacturing now.
