DroneUp and Carilion Clinic Achieve a New Era in Last Mile Logistics for Healthcare Campuses
ROANOKE, Va. (June 14, 2024) – DroneUp, America's leading autonomous drone delivery company, entered the second phase of its partnership with Carilion Clinic, a not–for–profit healthcare organization based in Roanoke, Va., with the installation of its industry-defining ground infrastructure, DBX, part of The DroneUp Ecosystem, to enable autonomous delivery across the medical campus. The proof-of-concept installation, which went live on Monday, June 3, has been utilized and measured for the past two weeks.
The DroneUp Ecosystem represents a significant advancement in making last-mile delivery more efficient, accessible, faster, and safer than ever before. DroneUp’s DBX streamlines autonomous deliveries in both urban and city landscapes while providing climate-controlled package management and storage from a footprint the size of a parking space.
During Carilion’s proof-of-concept installation, staff were able to send and retrieve drone-delivered items from the secured box at their convenience. The drone flew from a remote location and autonomously secured the package before flying to its destination. This deployment marks a significant advancement for inter-campus medical delivery, benefitting patient care through improvements to the speed and efficiency of both medical supply and prescription transport across a ~10-mile zone.
“Providing quality healthcare involves managing complex logistics. For this reason, we’re constantly seeking ways to support frontline teams, allowing them to maximize time at the bedside and prioritize the critical work of caring for our patients,” said Paul Davenport, vice president of Emergency Services for Carilion. “As a major academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center, our Roanoke campus is always busy. Our multi-hospital system also extends throughout southwest Virginia. We hope to explore future DroneUp collaboration, applying innovative solutions like DBX to meet the varying logistical needs of our entire footprint.”
In a first-of-its-kind integration, DroneUp’s Airspace Awareness system also began taking the steps to explore integration into Carilion’s Transfer and Communications Center, ensuring Carilion’s mobile integrated healthcare teams have visibility and awareness of DroneUp airspace activity. The goal is to streamline DroneUp workflows to operate safely amongst UAS traffic in future phases, working in tandem with Carilion’s air medical service.
"This project with Carilion signals an exciting and transformative chapter in autonomous medical delivery,” said Greg James, vice president of business development at DroneUp. “We’re confident that the DBX will help Carilion realize its goals of efficiency and accessibility while demonstrating to the larger medical community the improvements that last-mile logistics can have within campus settings and the surrounding community.”
DroneUp’s drones are roughly five feet in diameter, fly at around 200 feet in elevation, and typically carry deliveries up to 10 pounds. The drones will launch from Carilion’s Materials Management warehouse on Franklin Road, pick up packages at the DBX located at their Riverside Campus, and deliver to approximately 8 locations across their headquarters.
Carilion, recognized by Fortune as one of "America's Most Innovative Companies" in 2024, has long been a pioneer in the advancement of healthcare delivery, having brought Life-Guard, the first air ambulance service in Virginia, to the region in 1983.
About DroneUp
DroneUp is a pioneering autonomous drone delivery company that specializes in providing innovative and efficient solutions for last-mile delivery. DroneUp’s proprietary autonomous technology is integrated with its ground infrastructure to provide affordable and scalable last-mile delivery. With a commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology and a customer-centric approach, DroneUp is revolutionizing the way goods are transported, making delivery faster, safer, and more cost-effective.
Founded in 2016, DroneUp is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. DroneUp provides drone delivery service in 33 locations across six states for the #1 retailer in the world, Walmart, Inc.
For more information: https://www.droneup.com
About Carilion Clinic
Carilion Clinic is a not-for-profit healthcare organization headquartered in Roanoke, Va. A comprehensive network of hospitals, primary and specialty physician practices and other complementary services enables employees to collaborate in providing quality care close to home for nearly 1 million Virginians. With an enduring commitment to the region’s health and wellness, Carilion also advances care through philanthropy, medical education, and research; helps the communities it serves stay healthy; and inspires the region to grow stronger. For more information, visit CarilionClinic.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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