Drones are delivering medical supplies in Massachusetts. Could the tech reach your state?

Congressman Chris Smith opens press conference held in Seaside Heights, N.J., on Dec. 14, 2024, to address the issue that little is known about the hundreds of drone sighting in Monmouth and Ocean Counties as well as the New York area.

Peter Ackerman, Asbury Park Press

The future is here.

Transportation officials in Massachusetts are testing drone technology to be used in the Bay State to deliver medical supplies, marking the latest effort to use drones to drop goods at Americans' homes nationwide.

The drones, which were tested last year, are able to deliver packages up to 10 pounds for a distance of at least one mile. The goal is to use them "for small package delivery, especially for home-based healthcare and emergency medical response in the future," the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a statement.

”This demonstration project reflects our commitment to exploring the use of drones to meet critical needs, such as the timely, cost-effective delivery of supplies and devices for health care and emergency management, across the Commonwealth,” Denise Garcia, acting administrator of the department's aeronautics division, said in a press release.

What are drones? What are they used for?

Drones, a term that encompasses uncrewed aerial vehicle piloted remotely, are widely used among hobbyists, commercial users and the military for a variety of purposes.

Tens of thousands of customers around the country already get everything from lunchtime goodies and replacement light bulbs to vaccines and prescriptions via drone. Major retailers including 7-11, Walmart, and Chick-fil-A have launched drone delivery programs, and three of the country's largest drone delivery companies -DroneUp, Zipline, and Wing - say the industry is ripe for expansion.

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In Massachusetts, the department of transportation also uses drones for infrastructure inspection, incident response and supporting other government agencies including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

"MassDOT’s drones collect various types of data, like high-resolution images, 3D maps, thermal images, and LiDAR scans," according to Dronelife.com. "This data helps with proactive maintenance and more accurate condition assessments, aiding in better planning and scheduling."

MassDOT Aeronautics has been testing drones for the purpose of delivering medical supplies.

Could drones be used for medical deliveries in other states?

A team from the University of Maryland is using drones to deliver prescription drugs and other medical supplies to residents of Smith Island and other remote communities in the state that would otherwise have to wait days for deliveries. The program was announced in October after the state received a $1.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement.

Amazon has also used drones to deliver prescription medications to customers in College Station, Texas, about 95 miles northwest of Houston. The company promised in 2023 the deliveries would be made within an hour of ordering and wouldn't cost customers anything extra, offering relief from standing in line, having public conversations about health and strenuous wait times.

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DroneUp, Zipline and Wing fly deliveries not only for fast food restaurants like Sweetgreen and Wendy’s, but also a handful of health clinics in several states, including Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and Virginia. Zipline announced last year that the Mayo Clinic would use the company's autonomous drones to make deliveries directly to patients homes from the health system's campuses in Jacksonville, Fla. and Rochester, Minn.

"In the next few years, Zipline’s P2 service is expected to reach patients in 11 states, putting better care within reach of more than 30 million people in the United States alone," the company said.