Drones will deliver coronavirus testing kits and technology to islands off the west coast of Scotland. Skyports will be working with NHS Highland, which serves the group of islands, to use drones to deliver medical supplies and samples from a hospital on the Argyll and Bute mainland.

Trial deliveries were initially carried over two weeks in May, and the scheme subsequently received funding as part of a joint initiative between the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA) to find and support space-enabled technologies and services that can support the NHS response to coronavirus.

The drones will use mobile connectivity, satellite communications and navigation, and Earth observation data, to chart a course to others areas of the mainland and across the sea to nearby islands to reach medical practices in need.

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “I’m proud of how our world-leading space sector is stepping up to provide innovative solutions to directly support our amazing NHS, as we continue our national effort to tackling coronavirus. The projects we are backing today show UK ingenuity at its finest, and will make a real difference to how we use this latest innovative technology to deliver critical healthcare now and long into the future.”

Photo courtest of Skyports