Medical Drone
The Challenge
In many hilly areas in Nepal, roadways are poor and infrastructure is limited, while also being susceptible to landslides and blockades. Almost 80% of the population resides in these rural areas, and this creates significant barriers to accessing essential medical supplies. Although there are health posts and health centers scattered across the area, they still struggle to provide basic medicine due to the lack of reliable transportation. This situation is particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations, such as mothers and their newborns, who require immediate access to medical care and supplies.
Our Solution
Drones have existed for a while and have solved problems in various domains. Started in 2017, the National Innovation Center (NIC) in Nepal has been working on the Medical Drone project to create a drone prototype that will deliver medicine in rural areas. Now, in collaboration with Diyalo, they are aiming to develop a locally engineered drone delivery network and enhance the software to make it more user-friendly.
How It Works
- The Medical Drones are first built using open-source flight controllers and custom airframe hardware, tailored to local conditions.
- The most efficient configuration is a fixed-wing single rotor, tested for stability and endurance over a range of 20 kilometers.
- The drone structure is constructed from Styrofoam and plywood, with 3D-printed motor mounts for enhanced durability.
- Equipped with a PixHawk 4 flight controller and ArduPilot firmware, ensuring reliable navigation and communication.
- The drone incorporates autonomous sensor technologies for improved attitude control, obstacle avoidance, and enhanced landing performance.
The Outcome
The Medical Drone will not only improve health outcomes but also empower local health centers to operate more effectively, bridging the healthcare gap in rural Nepal. It is a sustainable and scalable way of healthcare delivery in challenging environments, ensuring equal access to essential medicine for everyone.