SOFTBOX

Collaboration Led by Direct Relief Successfully Completes Pilot Testing of Capability for Long-Range Delivery of Temperature-Dependent Medicines and Vaccines by Drone

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Emerging technologies, Articles, Unmanned aerial vehicles, Technology, Delivery drone, Freight transport, Unmanned aerial vehicle, Drone, Pharmaceutical industry

Direct Relief, Merck (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada), Softbox, AT&T and Volans-i are working together on the project.

Key Points: 
  • Direct Relief, Merck (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada), Softbox, AT&T and Volans-i are working together on the project.
  • The successful pilot and the potential of UAV technology could represent an important step forward in biopharmaceutical supply chain innovation and for humanitarian efforts around the world.
  • "Drone delivery is one of the most promising answers to this problem.
  • The collaborators will now advance the pilot program so the technology can be tested in Africa and Latin America.

Direct Relief, Merck and Partners Test Temperature Controlled Autonomous Drone Delivery System for Medicines in Puerto Rico a year after Maria

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 24, 2018
Packaging, Economy, Business, Food preservation, Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, Pharmaceutical industry, Food safety, Cold chain, Refrigeration, Chemistry, Vaccine

The organizations are testing drone flights and the coordinated processes needed to provide medical supplies by drone in a temperature-controlled environment with real-time monitoring.

Key Points: 
  • The organizations are testing drone flights and the coordinated processes needed to provide medical supplies by drone in a temperature-controlled environment with real-time monitoring.
  • The technology of the smart boxes allows for temperature-control when delivering products such as some of Merck's vaccines.
  • Researchers estimate that most deaths from Hurricane Maria in September 2017, were caused by loss of access to medicines and health care, not by wind or water.
  • Softbox makes the small temperature controlled packaging system for transporting cold chain medications - those requiring constant refrigeration.

AT&T, Softbox and Merck Test Connected Payloads and Drone Flights to Deliver Medical Supplies in Puerto Rico

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 24, 2018
Geography of North America, Lesser Antilles, History of the Caribbean, PUERTO RICO, San Juan–Caguas–Guaynabo metropolitan area, New Spain, Spanish colonization of the Americas, Hurricane Maria

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Aug. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --AT&T* is taking part in a proof of concept with Softbox to test connected medical payloads carried by drones.The goal?

Key Points: 
  • GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Aug. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --AT&T* is taking part in a proof of concept with Softbox to test connected medical payloads carried by drones.The goal?
  • The field trialwith Merck, the pharmaceutical company,took place in locations across Puerto Rico.
  • The drone test flights give us hope that we will be able to provide a reliable supply of our medicines for disaster."
  • Last year, AT&T deployed the helicopter Flying COW (Cell on Wings, cell site on a drone) in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.