DOT to expand drone usage for deliveries during pandemic

Starting in May, WakeMed, UPS and Matternet will fly a drone to shuttle miscellaneous supplies and equipment between WakeMed’s main hospital in Raleigh and the WakeMed Garner Healthplex. The shift will free up their delivery drivers to focus on materials needed to fight the pandemic, officials said.

In the Charlotte area, Zipline and Novant Health will move personal protective equipment and other medical equipment across Novant's medical campuses by drone.

"Anytime we can expand an operation where we help with medical logistics systems – the moving of supplies, medical equipment or even pharmaceuticals in a hospital system – if we can help relieve that by using a drone, that helps free up folks on the ground to help with that workload," DOT program manager Basil Yap said.

Officials will use data collected during the project to determine how drones can be used in other areas of the country.

NC first in flight again with drone deliveries of prescription drugs in Cary

DOT has been using drone technology since 2018 as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program.

"North Carolina has been a leader in demonstrating how drones can help people in times of crisis," Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette said in a statement. "We look forward to putting this technology into productive use as we work to help citizens and medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic."