Solent drone trial brought forward to speed medical supplies during COVID-19 pandemic

Engineers at the University of Southampton are coordinating a new drone trial that will accelerate the movement of medical supplies by flying them across the Solent.

Plans for the Windracers ULTRA drone trial, part of a newly announced regional Future Transport Zone , have been moved forward a year to aid the NHS fight against COVID-19.

The large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will transport supplies to St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight from Southampton General Hospital via Solent Airport.

The operation will be overseen by the Professors Tom Cherrett and Jim Scanlan as part of a four-year project with Solent Transport and Windracers.

The engineering partnership is aiming to develop an air traffic management system for the safe movement of both manned and unmanned aircraft in shared airspace, enabling increased efficiency, reduced cost and greater speed of medical supplies between NHS locations.

The ULTRA UAV is a large, double engine drone with a carrying capacity of up to 100Kg, in a space around the size of an estate car boot.

For the new trial, the drone can carry up to 40Kg of cargo defined by hospital needs and subject to permissions from the Civil Aviation Authority.

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