AGS Airports, which owns and manages Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, is to lead a consortium that will develop and trial what will be the UK’s first national distribution network to use drones to transport essential medicines, blood, organs and other medical supplies throughout Scotland.
The AGS led consortium, which brings together 14 organisations including the University of Strathclyde, and leading air traffic control provider NATS, successfully secured £1.5 million from the UK Industrial Strategy Future Flight Challenge Fund to demonstrate how autonomous drone technology can enhance access to essential medical supplies, particularly in rural parts of Scotland.
The CAELUS (Care & Equity - Logistics UAS Scotland) project will start on 1 December and will involve live drone flight trials. In addition to developing the ground infrastructure needed to recharge the drones and the systems to control them while flying, a key aspect of the project will be designing pathways to ensure the drones can safely share airspace with civil aviation. The project will also ensure critical aspects such as public safety, security and noise levels are considered.
A digital blue print of the drone delivery network will then be created with the potential to connect hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres and GP surgeries across Scotland. The project is scheduled to run until Spring 2022.
"This project has the potential to completely revolutionise the way in which healthcare services are delivered in Scotland. Not only does drone technology have the ability to speed-up the delivery of critical medical supplies, it could reduce waiting times for test results and, more importantly, help provide equity of care between urban and remote rural communities."
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports
"NHS Ayrshire & Arran are excited to be leading on the delivery of this project on behalf of the West of Scotland Innovation Hub. This is an opportunity to work with aviation colleagues to explore the innovative use of drone technology to address some of the potential challenges facing daily delivery of NHS services, not only within NHS Ayrshire & Arran but across the West of Scotland.” Karen Bell, Head of Research & Development"
Innovation Lead for NHS Ayrshire & Arran
"This innovative project will help position Scotland at the forefront of drone technologies to deliver essential healthcare supplies to people more quickly, especially those living remote locations. It also demonstrates, once again, that when businesses, universities and public sector work together they can deliver for Scotland and outperform the competition, attracting welcome funding at this challenging time."
Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Government’s Economy Secretary
"Strathclyde is a founding member of the UK Aviation Research Consortium and we are delighted to play a central role in this exciting project, applying our expertise from across multiple disciplines. The project aligns with our health technologies research cluster and our long track record of working with industry and the public sector. We look forward to demonstrating the potential value of drone delivery of medical supplies for the public, NHS, the economy, social equality and for the aviation manufacturing industry in Scotland."
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde
"At this very challenging time for the international aviation industry, it is a great testament to the UK’s drive and ambition that we have had such a strong response to the first funded Future Flight competition. The breadth, quality and creativity of the bids has been exceptional and the economic and social benefits offered are very significant. The projects we are now launching will position the UK strongly to drive the third revolution in aviation."
Gary Cutts, Future Flight Challenge Director
CAELUS brings together primes, small and micro enterprises and RTOs in a project where complementary individual competencies and track records are combined together synergistically to deliver innovation in the use of autonomous electric UAVs. Covering UAV manufacturers, UTM and ATM service providers, airport and UTM operators, ATM modernisation specialists, energy providers and infrastructure designers, medical packaging manufacturers, business, market and social analysts and experts in digital modelling and simulations, CAELUS has it all covered. The size and reputation of the organisations in CAELUS ensures credibility in its ambition and capability to deliver innovation.
Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund aims to bring together the UK’s world leading research with business to meet the major industrial and societal challenges of our time. The fund was created to provide funding and support to UK businesses and researchers, part of the government’s £4.7 billion increase in research and development over the next 4 years. It was designed to ensure that research and innovation takes centre stage in the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy. It is run by UK Research and Innovation.
Lead Consortium member AGS Airports Limited is a partnership between Ferrovial and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) established in 2014 to invest in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports. As the second largest airport group in the UK, AGS carried approximately 14M passengers in 2019. AGS Airports Limited is jointly held by Ferrovial and AGS Ventures Airports Limited, an entity managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Limited.
Project Director: Fiona Smith
Group Head of Aerodrome Safety - AGS Airports
Telephone: +44 (0)7808 115798
Email: fiona.smith@agsairports.co.uk
Project Commercial Director: Gordon Bain
Group Head of Capital - AGS Airports
Telephone: +44 (0)7730 147943
Email: gordon.bain@glasgowairport.com
ANRA Technologies, a UK Private Limited Company, with offices in London, Washington DC and New Delhi, is an international provider of end-to-end drone operations and traffic management solutions for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operators and airspace managers. ANRA offers highly-sophisticated and modular traffic management software capabilities as part of the SmartSkiesTM family for UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations. ANRA offers enterprise-class drone operations solution via SmartSkies Mission ManagerTM and SmartSkies DeliveryTM.
ANRA Technologies LtdAtkins is part of SNC-Lavalin’s Engineering, Design and Project Management sector. We are one of the world’s most respected global and integrated design, engineering and project management consultancies serving infrastructure, transportation and energy sectors. We have approximately 50,000 employees worldwide and 450 employees in our Glasgow Office. Atkins are helping to move the world forward, by building what matters. Where others see challenges, we see opportunities to transform things for the better. Together with our clients, we’re always striving to find better ways to get things done. Whether it’s rapid urbanisation against the backdrop of ever-increasing pressures on resources, or the accelerated connectivity of people and places, our industry is uniquely positioned to deliver outcomes for our clients that help to enrich people’s lives.
Atkins LtdAvy is an innovative drones-for-good manufacturer based in Amsterdam. Founded in 2016, Avy’s goal is to develop life-saving technology in the field of sustainable aviation. Avy develops an autonomous electric fixed-wing drone. Both a helicopter and an airplane, the autonomous long-range drone combines the best of these both worlds: flying long distances with the capability to land and take-off vertically from anywhere. The payload bay can be equipped with a MedBox - a cooled cargo box that can maintain the cold chain requirements. In the Netherlands, Avy is part of the Medical Drone Service consortium as the technological partner and drone manufacturer.
AVYThe Connected Places Catapult is the UK’s technology and innovation centre accelerating smarter living and Intelligent Mobility, harnessing emerging technologies to improve the movement of people and goods around the world. The CPC supports and enables organisations to harness emerging technologies, developing new products and services to capitalise on this rapidly growing global market, including focusing on drone technology and associated services. The CPC has a team of leading automated science, data, modelling, and engineering specialists who are experienced in delivering projects focusing on automation and advancing research towards practical application. As an organisation, we have experience of successfully delivering collaborative projects funded by Innovate UK (IUK), the Department for Transport (DfT) and Horizon 2020. The CPC is part of a network of not-for-profit technology and innovation centres established and overseen by the UK innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Connected Places CatapultIntelsius was incorporated as DGP Group in 1998, when the company developed a unique packaging solution designed for the transportation of samples suspected of containing the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, or “Mad Cow Disease”) prion. DGP Group became the first UN-certified BSE sample shipper in the world, within a year. The company soon went global, becoming widely recognized as one of the global market leaders of sample transport and temperature-compliant packaging solutions. We have recently developed an insulated Arial delivery package. This UNICEF/WHO project was looking for an aerodynamic, environmentally friendly and insulated single-use package for the transport of vaccines in remote areas by UAV. (Patent Pending). As an ISTA-certified test laboratory, we are able to develop all packaging solutions in-house and qualify them according to all applicable regulations and requirements. Intelsius has also been an established, certified and qualified supplier to various organisations including NHS Supply Chain, Public Health England and the Animal Plant and Health Agency for many years.
DGP Intelsius LtdLeonardo is one of the largest defence and security contractors in the UK and Europe and a leading provider of helicopters, military and commercial aircraft. Leonardo has extensive experience and capabilities in the design and manufacture of avionics capable of providing flight control, navigation, pilotage and obstacle avoidance, within controlled/segregated and uncontrolled airspace across a wide range of manned and unmanned, rotary and fixed wing platforms. Across the wider international business, Leonardo manufactures military and commercial aircraft and unmanned air systems (UAS) and has extensive aircraft/flight management capabilities including ground-based radar and UTM product and service offerings which complement products and services delivered by the UK business. Leonardo has extensive experience of working with the CAA, FAA and EASA in the development and certification of its airborne products, systems and services and holds EASA Design Organisational Approvals.
Leonardo MW LtdNATS Holdings is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom. It inherited the traditions of UK air traffic control, which (founded over Croydon Airport) was the world's first air traffic control regime. It provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK flight information regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, and provides air traffic control services to 14 UK airports. The workforce of NATS is mainly made up of air traffic controllers (ATCOs), air traffic control engineers (ATCEs), air traffic services assistants (ATSAs) and science technical analytical and research staff (STARs). Administrative and support staff make up the remainder of the 4,500 or so employees of NATS.
NATS LtdSchneider electric is a world leader in energy management enabled by digital infrastructure, connected devices and deep domain expertise in analytics and through life services. We place specific emphasis on IoT enabled open protocol architecture which provides a unified digital platform bringing together a "systems of systems" for the connected infrastructure. Our core competencies lie in a unified digital power architecture that allows various technologies to integrate onto a single platform through open protocol networks. While we are a global company, we place great importance on our local coverage, with 40+ sites across the UK we have the ability to support and respond at a local level while having the commercial, logistics and technical expertise of a global organisation. We leverage this global network to bring best in class and best practice to ensure that the solutions we develop are fit for purpose today and sustainable through the life of the building.
Shneider Electric LtdThe Drone Office is a consultancy and services company specializing in drones. We offer clients independent, solution-agnostic expertise. We advocate safe and innovative drone roadmaps. Drones are part of digital transformation. Beyond safety, our objective is to help clients transform disruption into a competitive advantage and value creation. Equally important, we share a vision of technology with a sense of purpose, that truly adds value for everyone.
The Drone OfficeTrax work at the forefront of associated R&D activities currently being undertaken by the industry and CAA to tackle the key ATM modernisation implementation challenges facing our sector. Our core consultancy team is comprised of experienced pilots, air traffic controllers, commercial drone operators, airspace designers, instrument flight procedure designers, systems engineers, software developers, business analysts, regulators and economists. The consultants working on this project were selected owing to their experience in airspace change, policy & regulatory approvals, airspace classifications and restrictions, flight planning, UTM live airspace trials, concept development, ATC operational procedures and ATM safety
Trax InternationaluAvionix are experts in developing state-of-the-art airborne avionics transmitters and air/ground- based receivers, navigation aids and UAS integration. uAvionix's technology leverages its certified avionics product line deployed worldwide including in support of existing trials in the UK at Barton, Goodwood and North Weald. They are currently deploying additional equipment in support of new trial in the North Sea and have permanent UK-based resources to support the installation and maintenance of all equipment necessary for this trial. They have a proven and established track record in dealing with the UK CAA and with the process of seeking test licence applications for emissions via Ofcom.
uAvionixThe University of Strathclyde is a technically focused university located in Glasgow, Scotland. Strathclyde relies on a multi-million research income from UK Research Councils, UK charities, European Commission and industry and has a portfolio of 125 FP7. Strathclyde has the necessary policies and mechanisms in place in order to promote the maximization of the impact of its research on the academic and industrial worlds, the society and policy makers.
University of StrathclydeDronamics are a UAS operator currently developing a middle mile solution aimed at freight cargo operations for high payload at long range. Our mission at DRONAMICS is to democratize airfreight and lower the cost of shipping in emerging markets. To achieve this, we are developing a new type of cargo airplane – small, unmanned and extremely fuel efficient. It can transport 350 KG over 2,500 KM for a cost that's 50%+ lower than other airplanes. It flies autonomously, can be monitored and managed remotely via satellite, and the whole system costs less than a sports car.
Dronamics Global Limited (DRO)
