Bruce Crumley | May 22 2023 - 1:10 am PT
Patients in eastern Virginia can expect to see the time and effort required to get prescription medication they need considerably reduced with the nearing launch of a new drone delivery program for remote locations.
Drone medication deliveries are being prepared by Virginia’s Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital Group, whose facility in Onancock on the peninsula forming the eastern perimeters of Chesapeake Bay is the overseeing operation. The service will provide faster access to prescriptions for Eastern Shore residents and inhabitants of Tangier Island, the latter of whom currently rely on or organize their own car and boat transportation to obtain orders, which can take nearly a week to arrive.
Assisting the hospital in the activity is UAV startup DroneUp, which is headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, just south of the intended area of aerial service.
Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital Group’s medication delivery project is being supported by a $1.9 million grant from the US Department of Transportation. The agency’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation program selected the drone shuttle proposal as one of 59 innovation pitches that were awarded financial backing.
Hospital senior vice president of strategic initiatives Sally Hartman says turning to drone delivery in the same way retailers and food companies have begun reaching customers faster and at lower costs made sense in getting critical medication to people living off Virginia’s beaten track.
“We are always looking for innovative ways to provide care for our patients,” said Hartman of the hospital’s expected June service launch with DroneUp. “This partnership provides us with the opportunity to support patients in more rural communities by improving access to prescription medications with fast at-home delivery.”
Riverside’s drone transportation of medication will be pursued in two stages, with the initial planning and prototyping work using DroneUp UAVs to make mock deliveries to remote trial locations around Virginia’s Eastern Shore already under way. Phase two will begin live test runs from Riverside Hospital to patients’ homes, which will expand and transition into regular operation next month.
Hospital senior vice president of strategic initiatives Sally Hartman says turning to drone delivery in the same way retailers and food companies have begun reaching customers faster and at lower costs made sense in getting critical medication to people living off Virginia’s beaten track.
SkySafe Launches New Drone Forensics Certification Course
Posted By: Miriam McNabbon: May 12, 2023
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby
Drone defense and airspace security company SkySafe has announced its launch of a new certification course offering in-depth training on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) forensic analysis.
As the sole provider of all UAS capabilities for SCG Canada’s Covert Forensic Imaging Device (CFID), SkySafe is able to provide unique insight and training on all aspects of UAS forensics. As such, the company developed the Applied UAS Forensics certification course, granting law enforcement and forensic examiners the necessary skills to conduct forensic analysis on small commercial and consumer drones.
“SkySafe is a leader in the drone forensics space,” said SkySafe Founder and CEO Grant Jordan. “We’re excited to bring drone forensics training and certification to the market. As more drones become available, more people are finding opportunities to use drones for criminal activities. We want to provide law enforcement and investigators with the skills they need to combat these threats and prosecute the offenders.”
The course covers such topics as best practices for seizure and recovery of UAS devices, including storage, handling, and transportation of recovered drones, in addition to detailed information for conducting UAS teardowns. Participants will also receive hands-on training with a CFID, being taught analysis techniques for extracted artifacts and methods of evaluating pattern of life activity to determine threat potential.
“Our goal is to go beyond just teaching students about the popular tools for data extraction and analysis, and instead provide examiners with the key skills needed to become subject matter experts,” said SkySafe Director of Reverse Engineering Sarah Frances.
The first class will be held in San Diego from May 22nd to 24th, with further in-person and virtual classes to be held in the future. For further information on SkySafe’s drone forensics offerings, or to register for the certification course, visit www.skysafe.io/drone-forensics
Drones are revolutionizing various industries, including logistics, agriculture, and cinematography, among others. They offer unparalleled flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency in completing tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional methods. However, with the increasing use of drones, there are growing concerns about safety and security, especially in areas where drone flights are restricted. For example, near airports, military bases, government buildings, and other sensitive areas. Violating these restrictions can result in severe consequences, including fines, legal action, or even endangering lives. Therefore, it is essential to have robust safety measures in place to ensure compliance with standards, such as Eurocae ED-269 and ED-270, and prevent accidents. This is where Veronte’s Geofencing technology comes in.
Veronte Autopilot allows drone operators to configure restricted areas or volumes as polygons or circles, thanks to its new Geofencing capabilities. This feature offers an easy-to-use interface, the VeronteOps tool, allowing drone operators to set up restricted flight areas quickly and effectively. This tool shows the restricted areas in the map with a shade of red. Any attempt to enter these areas will result in an automatic detour of the aircraft to prevent going into those areas and then it will continue with the planned route. Moreover, Veronte Autopilot’s Geocaging capabilities allows to delimit Safe Flight Areas, to delimit zones from which the drone cannot leave. In addition, the Veronte Autopilot enables drone operators to update restricted flight areas even during flight, making it a versatile and efficient solution for managing restricted areas. All in compliance with Eurocae ED-269 and ED-270.
Geofencing can be used also to bing the operation of the UAV’s in altitude, for example configuring a minimum or/and maximum height in certain areas.
Furthermore, Veronte’s Geofencing technology has multiple applications beyond regulatory compliance. For instance, it can be used for precision agriculture, where drones can be programmed to avoid restricted areas such as water sources, crops, or livestock. This helps prevent any potential damage to crops or livestock and ensures that the drone stays on course to complete the mission. It can be also used to prevent going too close to electric lines, wind turbines, etc.
Overall, Veronte’s Geofencing technology is a valuable tool for drone operators, enabling them to comply with regulations such as the Eurocae ED-269 and ED-270 standard, prevent accidents, and protect sensitive infrastructure. Its easy-to-use interface, versatile features, and advanced capabilities make it an ideal solution for a wide range of applications. Whether you are a drone operator in the logistics, military, agriculture, or cinematography industry, Veronte’s geofencing technology offers unparalleled control and stability, ensuring the safe and responsible operation of your drone.
Source: https://www.suasnews.com/2023/04/geofencing-capabilities-in-veronte-autopilot/