Three years ago, the Munich drone manufacturer Quantum-Systems launched the Medintime project. The goal was to accelerate the delivery of emergency medications, such as anticoagulants for accident victims or antibiotics for patients. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) with a total of 961,624 euros and, besides Ingolstadt Hospital, involved Ilmtal Hospital Pfaffenhofen, Pfaffenhofen District, Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences, and the Bavarian Red Cross as partners.
With Medintime, drone technology was further developed in the specific application context of medication delivery, and a standardized digital process for distribution was created. In an initial test, the aircraft covered a distance of just over 43 kilometers – from Ingolstadt Hospital to Ilmtal Hospital Pfaffenhofen – in 38 minutes. By car, this distance can take twice as long, depending on traffic conditions. This demonstrated to the project partners that fast and secure medication transport by drone is technically feasible. The insights gained are now to serve as the basis for future supply of emergency medications using new technologies.
A particular challenge in the project was compliance with aviation regulations. Since the automated drone flight takes place beyond the pilot’s line of sight, particularly stringent requirements must be met.
“Germany is at the forefront of this development”
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing, whose ministry is funding Medintime, says:
“Drones can save lives. They can be the decisive difference when it comes to quickly supplying people in remote areas or transporting vital medical goods from A to B. That’s why we as an industrial nation must be open to new technologies – especially with regard to drone deployment. Germany is at the forefront of this development. We want to further expand our pioneering role in unmanned aviation. I will do everything in my power to make medication transport by drone possible on a large scale very soon.”
And Pierre Ulfig, project manager for Medintime at Quantum-Systems, explains:
“By using drones as a means of transport, emergency medications could in future be transported faster and more flexibly according to demand. At the same time, environmental impact can be reduced and costs saved.”
