(Video from Dakoit Pictures. Drone footage courtesy of Fovea Aero Systems LLC http://foveaaero.com/rom)
On Wednesday, drone delivery service Flirtey and Dr. Timothy Amukele of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, successfully conducted the first ship-to-shore drone delivery in the U.S. off the coasts of New Jersey and Delaware.
Present were representatives of the American Red Cross and United Nations.
“Imagine a future where in the event of a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy, Flirtey drones rapidly deliver emergency medical supplies, food and water,” said Flirtey CEO Matt Sweeny.
The drone collected medical samples from the shore and delivered them to a ship; then collected medicine from the ship and delivered it to the shore. The flights demonstrated how unmanned aircraft can provide life-saving aid to victims of a disaster, such as a hurricane.
Flirtey is an independent drone delivery service. The U.S.-based startup has worked with NASA, the University of Nevada, Reno, The New Jersey Test Site and Virginia Tech to create the technology and logistics systems for a mass-market drone delivery network. Learn more at http://flirtey.com/
Ryan Media Lab, Lewes, was also involved on the public relations and communications end of the project. Ryan has done presentations in Delaware. The Delaware River and Bay Authority also assisted in the medical drone project.
DRBA is testing the use of drones to inspect the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
