Beyond cargo: 4 exciting uses of delivery drones
Navigating remote and dangerous terrains for emergency and specialized tasks
If you’ve ever read about drones in the cargo industry, you know that delivering goods by air is no longer a futuristic dream. But did you know that delivery drones can do much more than bring a package to your door?
Fixed-wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (VTOL UAVs) are known for their long flight range, making them ideal for various tasks and extending the possibilities of drone delivery. Here are 4 emerging fixed-wing VTOL drone applications that bring a new perspective on delivery.
1. Transfer life-saving medical goods
One of the most exciting applications of cargo drones is found in the medical industry. In emergencies, every minute counts, and these minutes that separate emergency responders from the people in need of help can turn into hours in areas with poor or non-existent infrastructure. Delivering medicine and tissue is a delicate matter that requires the best tools in order to save lives.
With the ability to deliver vital medical supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas, cargo drones can do precisely that. Medical goods such as vaccines, blood, and organs can be quickly transported to hospitals and patients in need, eliminating the delays and limitations of traditional ground vehicles. For instance, a fixed-wing VTOL UAV equipped with a payload dropping mechanism can drop antidotes deep into a desert or a forest. Thus, less urbanized areas can be accommodated faster and with ease, allowing professionals to focus on saving lives and leaving logistical problems behind.
2. Safely send valuable items
Delivery drones can also be used to send valuable items, such as precious metals or confidential information. This application can be especially beneficial for businesses or organizations that operate in (potentially) dangerous environments.
For example, when repeatedly transferring expensive goods using the same – perhaps unlit and rural – route, cargo drivers are experiencing a high chance of robbery. Aerial delivery eliminates the danger. The same benefit applies for crossing enemy territory to share important data. Not only is the information or other type of package kept out of reach – some fixed-wing drones can reach altitudes that make them invisible to human eyes, ensuring maximum secrecy. Cargo drones ensure that valuable items and information are delivered on time, safely, and secretly.
3. Track unseen environmental changes
Some surprising applications of cargo drones come not from their ability to deliver but to actually lose the cargo. A great example is set by research groups that are dropping sensors mid-flight. As a UAV flies over terrain, it provides access to otherwise inaccessible areas like mountains or bodies of water. That is why it is perfect for environmental research of places that are either out of reach or where human activity disrupts the ecosphere itself.
Merely dropping a tracking or monitoring sensor can bring a lot of useful information. For instance, UAVs now make it possible to track ice floes by dropping water-activated floating GPS devices. Once delivered, the devices send their positioning information back to researchers. This helps them better understand the effects of climate change in arctic regions and, consequently, make better strategies on how to mitigate its impact.
4. Easily sample water and soil
Cargo UAVs also show great potential in environmental sampling, specifically of water and soil. Water testing is crucial in monitoring water quality and identifying pollutants. Similarly, soil examination is equally important in determining the health state of different ecosystems.
When using cargo drones to collect samples, researchers can cover larger difficult-to-reach areas in less time and with less environmental disruption. The drone with attached collection mechanisms can be lowered to collect samples without the need for human intervention. Alternatively, the drone can transport human-collected samples, eliminating the need for human travel back and forth to the sampling site.
The efficiency and accuracy of drone sampling can lead to a better understanding of environmental health, aiding in the conservation and management of natural resources. Additionally, drone sampling can reduce the risk of human exposure to hazardous materials during sample collection, adding to a greater array of ecosystems that become available for studying.
Expand limits with the DeltaQuad Evo
The use of cargo UAVs has great potential in advancing transportation as well as the understanding of environmental health. With further technological advancements, drones will likely continue to play an increasingly important role in business across industries.
The DeltaQuad Evo is here for you to take part in the evolution of drone transportation. It is a multipurpose fixed-wing VTOL UAV that can expand your (literal) limits. Flying 120 km with a 3kg payload, it can easily reach remote and hard-to-access areas, while its modular, easy-to-use design makes it an ideal choice for all businesses and organizations.
Ready to redefine what’s possible with delivery drones? Click here to talk with us about a tailored solution on how DeltaQuad Evo can expand your operational limits today:
