So rewarding to share what we have collectively accomplished at Project CAELUS. Around 70 delegates from across the country attended the AGS-led Project CAELUS Showcase, where key findings and innovations from the trailblazing initiative were unveiled.
As the lead health board, NHS Grampian has championed a “once for Scotland” approach, exploring how drone technology can transform access to healthcare, particularly in remote and rural areas.
The event, attended by industry leaders, also featured key addresses from UK Aviation Minister Mike Kane and Scottish Business and Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead, underscoring the project’s national significance.
The Drone Office is part of the 16-member consortium that has been working to revolutionise healthcare logistics by developing Scotland’s first national medical drone network. Among other topics, The Drone Office was leading the public engagement activities. Key findings are summarised in the keynote below:
The Close-out event is the opportunity to reflect on the team's key moments and achievements.
Much more ground was covered by the CAELUS consortium, as detailed below - courtesy of project lead AGS Airport press release:
Fiona Smith, Sustainability Director at AGS Airports said: “It has been a pleasure to lead CAELUS as the project director for the last four years.
“There has been some incredible work by our consortium through our live flight trials in various parts of Scotland. Sharing our findings and research today means Project CAELUS will have a lasting legacy.”
Over 2024, live flight trials were conducted across Scotland using drones to rapidly transport medical supplies and diagnostic samples between mainland hospitals and remote or rural locations.
Aviation Minister, Mike Kane said: “I’m thrilled to see innovative uses of drones having a positive impact on people’s lives, enabling greater access to vital healthcare supplies and services, as well as supporting jobs and opportunities.
“It’s fantastic that Project CAELUS has brought innovators, health trusts and others together to revolutionise how the future aviation sector can support valued institutions like the NHS, and also boost the economy, delivering on our Plan for Change.
Having received a total of £8.5m funding from the UK Industrial Strategy Future Flight Challenge Fund, since it started in January 2020, the CAELUS project has demonstrated how autonomous drone technology can enhance access to essential medical supplies, particularly in rural parts of Scotland.
The CAELUS consortium has proto-typed drone landing stations for NHS sites across Scotland and developed a digital simulator to support the modelling of delivery networks nationally. This has the potential to connect hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres and GP surgeries across Scotland in the future.
Adam Coldwells, Interim Chief Executive of NHS Grampian, said: "We are proud to be the lead health board supporting colleagues across Scotland to input into Project CAELUS. Co-chairing the NHS CAELUS Steering Group as well as participating in the UK Advisory Group for the Future Flight Challenge has given me real insight into the role drones can play in supporting our staff and our patients, and how we best achieve that. Project CAELUS is a great example of the excellent partnership working which will help us deliver a bright, sustainable future for our NHS."
Karen Bell, National NHS Innovation Programme Lead in NHS Grampian, has supported all health boards across Scotland to participate in Project CAELUS. She commented: "By working together we've been able to demonstrate the potential this technology has to transform the future of healthcare, particularly in rural areas. We've shown we can integrate with colleagues managing our air space, as well as regulatory bodies and suppliers to save time when it is most precious. We have developed ways to deliver medical supplies using drones safely and effectively."
Live Flight Trials by Project CAELUS
· Glasgow Airport to NHS Golden Jubilee, Clydebank: In November 2023 Project CAELUS operated one of the UK’s first BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flights from Glasgow Airport to NHS Golden Jubilee. https://youtu.be/fG7UWEGuAqU?feature=shared
· Edinburgh BioQuarter to Borders General Hospital, Melrose: In August 2024, drones delivered laboratory specimens between NHS Lothian and NHS Borders, reducing transport time from up to five hours to just 35 minutes. This was the first time supplies had been flown between NHS Health Boards.
· University Hospital Crosshouse to Arran War Memorial: In October 2024, laboratory samples were flown across the Firth of Clyde for the first time. Using drones can reduce critical healthcare materials from several hours to just 30 minutes.
· Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin and Aberdeen: In December 2024 the trial in the north east of Scotland tested the transportation of medical products between the two areas.
AGS Airports
AGS Airports Limited was established in 2014 to invest in Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports and is the second largest airport group in the UK.
AGS Airports is held by AviAlliance, one of the world’s leading private industrial airport investors and operators.
AGS Airports supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes in excess of £2 billion in GVA to the UK economy every year.
· AGS Airports
· ANRA Technologies UK
· Arup
· AtkinsRéalis
· Boldyn Networks UK
· Commonplace Digital
· Connected Places Catapult
· DGP Intelsius
· Dronamics
· NATS
· NHS Scotland
· Plane Finder
· Skyports Drone Services
· The Drone Office
· Trax International
· University of Strathclyde
Future Flight Challenge
The Future Flight Challenge from UK Research and Innovation is a £125 million investment designed to deliver the third revolution in aviation. By establishing a vision for the future aviation system using new classes of electric/hydrogen and autonomous vehicles we are transforming how we connect people, deliver goods and provide services. We are working towards demonstrating the safe integration and operation of drones, advanced air mobility and regional aircraft, along with advancements in electrification and autonomy. We encourage businesses, regulators and public bodies to share knowledge and resources with each other to bring these innovative air vehicles into service safely and practically.
Anne-Lise Scaillierez
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