The South African National Blood Service has created its drones for the transportation of blood.
Dubbed the TRON drone, it is endowed with a wing design for optimum operations and it also enables coverage of long distance with lesser power usage.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS), a non-profit organization that provides essential services around the provisioning of blood and blood products in South Africa.
SANBS displayed the drones in Sandton and also practically analyzed how they intend to save more lives using drone technology to deliver blood.
Dr. Jonathan Louw, CEO of the SANBS said, “We believe that this is an innovative step in the history of blood transfusion. SANBS is determined to improve rapid access to life-saving blood products in rural areas through the use of drone technology. Our concept is globally unique in that we will provide two-way logistics; patients can receive emergency ‘0 negative’ blood from one of our blood banks via drone. The same drone can then take that patient’s blood sample to the blood bank for comprehensive cross-matching and then safely and rapidly deliver compatible blood back to the patient.”
According to SANBS, the TRON is a professional and high-performing drone as it boasts a maximum take-off weight of 13,5 kg and can fly at speeds of up to 160km/h.
Also, the TRON’s cargo compartment is able to securely accommodate even the most fragile payload, up to 2 kg and cool it actively. The TRON will fly at an altitude of 100m to hospitals and as far away as 100km delivering up to four units of life-saving blood.
