Switzerland is experimenting with a network of blood-carrying drones

These quadcopters deliver medical samples from hospitals to testing facilities

Matternet’s quadcopter drone.
(Image credit: Matternet)

Drones aren't delivering to your doorstep just yet, but they're "already proving their worth with more urgent, medical missions," said Jack Stewart at Wired. Hospitals in Switzerland are testing a drone network built by Silicon Valley startup Matternet to quickly shuttle blood and other medical samples to and from testing facilities.

Right now, "hospitals move those supplies using third-party couriers that tend to be expensive and unreliable." Matternet's drone stations are small enough that hospitals can install them in parking lots or on rooftops. "To send a package, you just pop whatever needs carrying into a bright red, shoebox-size container," which is automatically slotted into one of Matternet's quadcopter drones and sent off to its destination. The company hopes to eventually expand beyond health care.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up