When the Okinawa Red Cross Blood Center receives an order for blood products, they transport the blood products by car to hospitals in the northern part of the prefecture. However, due to Okinawa's geographical characteristics, such as the limited number of highways and traffic congestion caused by residents relying exclusively on cars for transportation, this blood products transport takes approximately one hour one way. Additionally, the Blood Center bears a societal responsibility to deliver blood products urgently in response to hospital needs, requiring emergency transportation amidst these traffic conditions. Also, temperature control is critical during the transportation of blood products, and the blood products must be kept cool within a strictly defined temperature range. For this reason, it is essential to use special refrigerants for transportation.
The ANA Drone Business Team has been studying the use of drones for the transportation of medical supplies in areas where logistics issues are prominent, such as inhabited remote islands and depopulated mountainous areas, and has accumulated expertise in this area. The idea of using drones to address the important challenge of blood product transport led to this initiative.

The greatest advantage of using drones is the reduction in transport time and future labor savings. As drone performance improves, they will be able to fly directly from blood centers to hospitals, reducing the time it takes to transport blood products from about one hour by car to just 35 minutes by drone. This will enable faster delivery, even in emergencies, significantly enhancing the ability to respond quickly to medical crises. Moreover, with drone remote control technology, it is possible to reduce the need for personnel in transportation. Since drones can be operated via communication, it is expected that technology will advance to the point where one person can control multiple drones simultaneously. This could potentially address the logistics challenge of labor shortages in delivery services, which is already a societal issue today.
There were also challenges in temperature control for drone transport. However, with the cooperation of SUGIYAMA-GEN CO., LTD. which is developing cooling agents for blood product transport, a new insulated box specifically for drone transport was developed. By using their cooling agents and insulated box, it became possible to keep blood products at a stable temperature for a certain period, even during drone transport.

The drone used in this project is the Wingcopter 198, a VTOL fixed-wing drone manufactured by Wingcopter GmbH in Germany. With a width of 198 cm and a length of 167 cm, this drone features a delivery box located in the lower center of its fuselage. For this experiment, a cooler box with a constant temperature was stored inside to transport research blood. Each drone is capable of carrying two packs of blood products.

This drone can be remotely controlled using dedicated software on a PC, reducing the operator’s workload and improving operational efficiency. It also does not require a long runway for takeoff and landing. With an efficient cruising speed of 90 km/h, it enables rapid delivery of emergency medical supplies and logistics to remote areas. Depending on the weight of the cargo, the drone can travel up to 100 km on a single charge, making it ideal for distribution to hard-to-reach locations such as mountainous regions and remote islands.
Unlike cars or aircraft, which emit CO2 during transport, the Wingcopter 198 operates on electricity, producing no direct CO2 emissions during flight. While its overall environmental impact depends on how the electricity is generated, the drone offers a more sustainable option for transportation by reducing direct emissions and fuel consumption.

Video introduction of the Wingcopter198 https://youtu.be/P8U9CUtVR0Y?si=5K0ism8oHa_albxc

From November 27 to December 1, 2024, a demonstration experiment was conducted in Okinawa using a drone to transport research blood from Urasoe City to Nago City. During the process, the quality of the research blood was carefully checked for any issues.
The drone departed from Urasoe City and, after stopping at a fishing port in Onna Village to change batteries, flew the total distance of approximately 53 km to Nago Fishing Port in about 50 minutes. On days with weaker winds, the drone bypassed the stop in Onna Village and flew directly to Nago Fishing Port, completing the journey in just 39 minutes. After arriving at Nago Fishing Port, the research blood was transported by car to Okinawa Hokubu Hospital, a trip that took only 8 minutes.

This demonstration test verified several key aspects: the safety of the flight route, the feasibility of the delivery process using practical methods and equipment for on-site operations, the effectiveness of the drones in reducing the workload of delivery personnel, and the medical evaluation of the research blood products' quality.
Over the course of five days, demonstration tests were conducted with the cooperation of Dr. Hiroshi Fujita from Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, an expert in transfusion medicine. The medical analysis confirmed that there was no difference in the quality of research blood products transported by drone compared to those transported using conventional methods.
Looking ahead, the team plans to conduct further tests during different seasons, particularly in extremely hot weather, to evaluate the quality of transported blood products. Additionally, they aim to enhance drone performance to extend operational ranges, such as increasing tolerance for wind speed, and to gather data on delivery success rates under various weather conditions through long-term demonstration experiments.

We interviewed Mr. Aoyagi and Mr. Takaoka from the Drone Business Team at ANA Holdings Inc.

(Aoyagi)
In this operation, making the right decisions was challenging due to the winter weather conditions in Okinawa, which included strong northerly winds. With a long flight range of 53 km, it was crucial to accurately assess the weather above us, as wind direction and speed could significantly impact the remaining battery capacity during each flight. Additionally, the flight route overlapped with the airspace used by manned aircraft taking off and landing at Kadena Air Base, operated by the U.S. military, requiring careful advance coordination. Punctual operation was also essential to maintain the cold holding time for the transported research blood, as temperature control was critical. We meticulously planned every detail, including the departure time, flight route, wind calculations, and communication with the project manager, to ensure there was no risk of delay and the operation adhered to strict temperature requirements.

(Aoyagi)
As a drone operator, I prioritize safety and strive to make appropriate decisions based on the situation. Since regulations and flight conditions can change daily, I regularly check information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and carefully plan flights to ensure thorough preparation. Maintaining close communication with all team members involved in the operation is also essential. Instead of piloting alone, I coordinated with various staff members and the aircraft manufacturer to conduct the operation. To ensure smooth execution, we held detailed meetings in advance to share roles and schedules.

(Takaoka)
This demonstration experiment posed numerous challenges, particularly because it involved transporting research blood, a highly delicate material that requires temperature control, via drone. The transported research blood (red blood cells) could be affected if the temperature deviated from the 2°C to 6°C range. Given Okinawa's environment, we had to account for summer-like temperatures, working with stakeholders to carefully test the specialized cold storage container mounted on the drone, monitor temperatures during flights, and ensure proper loading methods for the research blood. Additionally, we needed to establish a safe operational system in compliance with regulations such as the 'Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Delivery by Drone.' To overcome these challenges, we collaborated with related parties and conducted multiple simulations to ensure the experiment's success.

(Takaoka)
Building on the insights gained from this demonstration experiment, I aim to further strengthen drone-based medical supply transportation services. In the future, I hope to establish a system that can handle not only blood products but also other medical supplies, such as pharmaceuticals and test samples, which require strict transport conditions and prompt delivery. Additionally, I plan to collaborate with drone manufacturers to develop a system that allows the simultaneous operation of multiple drones. This would significantly improve delivery efficiency and reduce costs, including labor expenses. Ultimately, I hope that drone-based medical transportation will become widely implemented in society, contributing to the revitalization of regional healthcare and enriching people’s lives.

The ANA Group will continue to work toward contributing to local communities in various ways and reducing CO2 emissions.