Payload release of medicines via drone successfully demonstrated

After the success of facilitating medical supplies through drone, a new solution has been developed for payload release.

Designed and fabricated by T-Works and done in collaboration with Hyderabad-based drone company Airserve Initiatives, a cold storage medical supplies payload with a first-of-its-kind autonomous release mechanism has been developed.

The solution incorporates a payload-release mechanism wherein the entire payload from the drone is automatically detached with zero human intervention. Once detached, the drone immediately takes off to return to its home base. As the release is instant it can be a potential solution in life-saving emergency situations.

While T-Works has developed the technology transfer solution, city-based drone company Airserve Initiatives successfully demonstrated this medical drone capability from Vikarabad Area Hospital to Madgulchittampalle primary healthcare centre, 6.2 km away, in Telangana as part of the Medicines from the Sky trials.

T-Works CEO Sujai Karampuri said, “Over the past year



T-Works has demonstrated multiple UAV related capabilities – from developing fixed-wing beyond-visual-line-of-sight or BVLOS UAVs to building customised payloads. We worked with Airserve Initiatives to design and fabricate the payload to carry temperature sensitive medical supplies and a first-of-its-kind autonomous payload release mechanism. This partnership is an excellent example of innovation moving from lab to market in record time, and a demonstration of what a rapid prototyping centre like T-Works can achieve.”

Until now, medical staff at primary healthcare centres had to manually separate the medicines or the entire box from the drone. This poses risks ranging from damage to the drone to injury to the medical staff.

“Airserve is thrilled to be among the top companies for drone deliveries and takes pride in building India’s first 4G drone for last-mile deliveries. We thank T-Works for helping us build a cold storage payload with the autonomous detachment mechanism which can successfully deliver vaccines”, said Aniketh Madhusudhan, director, Airserve Initiatives.