Although the fundamental technology has been around for decades, the average person has historically associated the word \u201cdrone\u201d with intelligence gathering or covert operations in the Middle East [3]. \u00a0Drones are classified as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and can take on a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the intended use and functionality. As UAVs made their entrance into the commercial sphere over the course of the last few years, drones began to gain attention in the headlines for a variety of applications including delivering pizzas, guiding ships away from Arctic ice blocks, and, every once in a while, for making an unwelcome pit stop on the White House lawn [4] [5].<\/p>\n
Inspired by the drone buzz and motivated by the potential impact of the newly formed partnership with the Rwandan government, Zipline\u2019s 30-person team began building a fleet of customized \u201cZip\u201d drones at a test facility on the outskirts of San Francisco. The entire system, once completed, was then transported by a UPS logistics team to the central hub, or \u201cNest\u201d in Rwanda [1].<\/p>\n
Using the Nest as a home base, the Zips are powered by a mounted battery and launched into the air by a catapult, after which the drones can guide themselves using GPS location data; this information is transmitted back to the hub as well as to Rwandan air traffic authorities by cellular connection.\u00a0 The drones stay below 500 ft of altitude to avoid interfering with passenger airliners, and cut what would have been a 3-4 hour voyage by car to under 30 minutes.\u00a0 When the Zip reaches its destination, a cardboard box containing the medical supplies is dropped into a designated “mailbox” area, where it is retrieved by a health professional. \u00a0Zipline\u2019s first batch of drones will be making an estimated 150 trips per day to the 21 clinics selected to participate in the pilot program (see Zip launch and transfusion clinic location network\u00a0below, courtesy of Zipline).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Looking ahead\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n As is often the case when innovation outpaces regulation, there have been mixed legislative reactions to the commercialization of drones across the globe. The US government recently eased restrictions and abandoned expensive legacy permit requirements for drone operation.\u00a0 The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has estimated that the business generated under the new law will lead to the creation of more than 100,000 new jobs, yielding a whopping $82 billion for the American economy over the next decade [6].\u00a0 Other countries have taken a more stringent approach to drone legislation due to terrorist and privacy concerns, thereby minimizing -or in Kenya\u2019s case, eliminating \u2013 commercial UAV operation all together.\u00a0 Alternatively, Ghana requires registration of all licensed drones, punishing violators with lengthy prison sentences.\u00a0 Nigeria has taken a slightly more capitalistic approach, demanding each individual drone user to pay $2500 to apply for a 3-year permit- although applying for one by no means guarantees acceptance [7].<\/p>\n Although there are valid safety, privacy and security concerns about drones as the technology approaches mainstream status, it\u2019s important to educate governments and individuals about the enormous benefits that can be derived from applying UAV and GPS technology to tackle complex problems in new and creative ways. \u00a0The type of public-private partnership established between Zipline and the Rwandan government can be replicated to serve endless purposes, including Malaria vaccine transport, dangerous mining, and pipeline inspection, just to name a few.\u00a0 This model of cooperation and information-sharing is arguably the best way to win over drone-skeptics: saving lives, while working to understand the regulations that will be required to maintain safety and protect the public\u2019s privacy.<\/p>\n (764 words)<\/p>\n Click to view Zipline Video<\/a><\/p>\n Sources:<\/p>\n [1] WHO\/World Bank Release, \u201cNew report shows that 400 million do not have access to essential health services<\/em>,\u201d June 12, 2015, http:\/\/www.who.int\/mediacentre\/news\/releases\/2015\/uhc-report\/en\/<\/a> Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [2] \u201cRwanda Launches World\u2019s First National Drone Delivery Service Powered By Zipline,\u201d<\/em> UPS Pressroom, October 13, 2016, https:\/\/www.pressroom.ups.com\/pressroom\/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=PressReleases&id=1476387513855-624<\/a> Accessed November, 2016<\/p>\n [3] Dan Simmons, \u201cRwanda begins Zipline commercial drone deliveries,\u201d<\/em> BBC, October 14th<\/sup>, 2016. http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/technology-37646474<\/a> Accessed November, 2016.<\/p>\n [4] Matt McFarland, \u201cShip relies on drone to avoid ice blocks Arctic waters<\/em>,\u201d CNN Money, November 5, 2016. http:\/\/money.cnn.com\/2016\/11\/05\/technology\/arctic-drone-ship-navigate\/index.html<\/a> Accessed November, 2016.<\/p>\n [5] Kristen Holmes, \u201cMan detailed outside White House for trying to fly drone,\u201d<\/em> CNN Politics, May 15, 2015. http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2015\/05\/14\/politics\/white-house-drone-arrest\/<\/a> Accessed November, 2016.<\/p>\n [6] Nyshka Chandran, \u201cFAA\u2019s new drone laws go into effect Monday, allowing US companies to innovate,\u201d<\/em> CNBC, August 29, 2016. http:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2016\/08\/29\/faas-new-drone-laws-go-into-effect-monday-allowing-us-companies-to-innovate.html<\/a> Accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/BBC-Launch.jpg\")
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