Larger types of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are beginning to be used in the United States and Europe for commercial transportation. Additionally, some blood product transport systems have been commercialized in Rwanda and other countries and used in pandemic operations for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in infected areas. Conversely, implementing goods transportation for commercial purposes in Japan has been difficult, especially in urban areas, due to national legislation. This study examined UAV-assisted transportation in Japan, a natural disaster hotspot, with a focus on the potential uses of UAVs in situations where traffic blockages make ground transportation impossible. UAVs were used to transport 17 kg of medical supplies belonging to a disaster medical assistance team (DMAT), along with 100 emergency meals. We also transported insulin under controlled-temperature conditions, as well as many other emergency supplies. Using UAVs to transport emergency supplies could be an effective approach when dealing with disasters. This paper summarizes the effectiveness of this approach for medical care and disaster response activities. We present a method for using drones to bridge the gap between medical and firefighting personnel, such as DMAT personnel, who are engaged in life-saving activities at the time of a disaster, and those who are unable to transport necessary goods by land using terrestrial vehicles due to traffic interruptions.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Short-Range Transportation Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) during Disasters in Japan


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2020




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    Unknown




    Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Firefighting

    Orgeira-Crespo, Pedro / Rey, Guillermo / Ulloa, Carlos et al. | Springer Verlag | 2024


    Drone/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Technology

    Adepoju, Omoseni | Springer Verlag | 2021



    Assisted Canopy Sampling Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

    la Vigne, Hughes / Charron, Guillaume / Hovington, Samuel et al. | IEEE | 2021


    Base Stations For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

    GRASBERGER CHRISTOPHER BRIAN / O'LEARY KEVIN PATRICK SMITH / WOO YEE SHAN et al. | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access