Autonomous drone network prepares to fly over Switzerland

An autonomous drone delivery network will deliver blood across Switzerland starting next month in a world first. The permanent network will see flying robot couriers shuttling blood and pathology samples between hospital labs and clinics. The drones will launch from stations that automatically replace the batteries and cargo, which is boxed by humans before flight and retrieved using a smartphone. Medical samples can be delivered to urban hospitals within 30 minutes, Matternet, the company behind the networks, claims. An autonomous drone delivery network will deliver blood across Switzerland starting next month in a world first.