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An ambulance drone delivering defibrillators

Alec Momont, a student from Delft University of Technology, has created an ambulance drone that can quickly deliver a defibrillator to where it is needed.  In fact, some 800,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest in the EU every year, and only 8% survive. A network of such drones could significantly increase the chance of survival up to 80%. Because the main reason for this is the relatively long response time of the emergencyservices, approx. 10 minutes. The ambulance drone can get a defibrillator to a patient inside a 12 km2 zone within one minute. Via alivestream video and audio connection, the drone can also provide direct feedback about how to treat the patient. The drone finds the patient’s location via the caller’s mobile phone signal and makes its way there using GPS. There are still a number of obstacles in the way of the development of the ambulance drone. It can fly autonomously, however, this is still not permitted by law. New Dutch legislation in this area is expected to be passed in 2015. Moreover, the drone has not yet been tested on ‘real’ patients, and the object avoidance system for avoiding obstacles in the drone’s path needs improvement.

Each year nearly a million people in Europe suffer from a cardiac arrest. A mere 8% survives due to slow response times of emergency services. The ambulance-drone is capable of saving lives with an integrated defibrillator. The goal is to improve existing emergency infrastructure with a network of drones. This new type of drones can go over 100 km/h and reaches its destination within 1 minute, which increases chance of survival from 8% to 80%! This drone folds up and becomes a toolbox for all kind of emergency supplies. Future implementations will also serve other use cases such as drowning, diabetes, respiratory issues and traumas.

Project Creator: Alec Momont – alecmomont.com

Watch the video of the drone:

http://www.west-info.eu/an-ambulance-drone-delivering-defibrillators/