Flirtey, the Nevada-based drone startup that completed the first legal urban drone deliveryin March, has hit another milestone. On Wednesday, the company demonstrated its drones’ ability to deliver medical supplies and test materials to and from an offshore vessel, marking the first such flight in the U.S. Drones will eventually enable medical relief to locales not accessible by roads or other means.
In an interview with The Guardian, Dr. Timothy Amukele, a Johns Hopkins professor and co-organizer of the demonstration, said medical deliveries are more touchy than getting shoes dropped off by Amazon. Blood samples, for instance, can be ruined by excessive jostling or vibration.