A hospital in southern Germany has begun using drones to fly blood samples between sites, significantly cutting delivery times and ensuring reliability regardless of road traffic conditions.
A hospital in Balingen, southern Germany, has launched an innovative drone transport system to deliver blood samples between its facilities. The initiative, led by Zollernalb Hospital in partnership with drone logistics company Labfly, aims to reduce delays caused by road traffic and ensure timely laboratory analysis.
Previously, the hospital relied on ground transport for moving blood samples across its two sites—an approach often hindered by traffic on the busy roads separating the facilities. According to Gerhard Hinger, Managing Director of Zollernalb Hospital, delivery by car could take up to an hour or longer depending on congestion. In contrast, drone delivery consistently takes just 12 minutes.
The drones operate autonomously along pre-programmed routes but are monitored remotely for safety. Kolja Klein, co-founder of Labfly and manager of the project, explained that while the drone functions automatically, it can be manually controlled in case of unforeseen obstacles such as blocked landing areas or other aircraft in the vicinity.
To further ensure operational safety, the drones are equipped with redundant motor systems. In the event of a technical fault, these redundancies allow the drone to safely reach a landing site even if one or more motors fail.
A laboratory assistant receives the drone upon landing, unpacks the blood samples, and transfers them for testing. The hospital expects this system to boost efficiency and improve patient care by minimising delays.
As the healthcare industry increasingly explores drone technology for logistics, this project demonstrates how automation and aerial delivery can offer practical solutions in clinical settings.
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