Zipline Drones Will Be Used For The Project

the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) will fund a trial of drone-delivered blood and medical supplies in Tanzania, according to a report from the BBC.

The test program will be conducted in conjunction with Zipline, which began operating a similar service in Rwanda in October.

The goal of the project is to greatly shorten the time required to send stock to health clinics in African nations.

The Zipline Zips carry supplies into a region, and then jettison them under a parachute from about 20 feet of altitude. That removes the requirement of the aircraft landing and then taking off again to return to base. The Zips are a fixed-wing drone, which can better cope with windy conditions than a multi-rotor aircraft, according to the report.

The Tanzanian and Rwandan governments are among those that take a fairly liberal approach to drone regulations, which makes them popular places for such experiments.

Tanzania has also authorized the use of drones in Tarangire National Park as part of its anti-poaching campaign.

THe DFID will also fund tests in Nepal using drones to map areas of that country that are prone to severe weather.

(Images from file)

FMI: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development