London Drugs, Canada Post and InDro Robotics recently collaborated to successfully complete Canada’s first ever beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight carrying pharmaceuticals using a UAS.

During the flight, which was conducted on Aug 19., the UAS carried pharmaceuticals from a London Drugs pharmacy to remote Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. 

“We are proud to have been selected to participate in the first trial of a Drone delivery of this kind in Canada,” says Chris Chiew, general manager of Pharmacy, London Drugs.

“The ability to provide medications to patients in remote areas that would otherwise have to travel hours to obtain pharmacy service is significant in so many ways. In the very near future we will be able to provide delivery of prescription medications to an abundance of areas not accessible by vehicle.”

Last year, Canada Post and InDro Robotic were selected to participate in Transport Canada’s BVLOS UAS trials. The focus of the proposal was testing BVLOS capabilities over open water and partnering to test the delivery of prescription medications to remote areas.

The Aug. 19 trials encompassed three parts, including the delivery of an Epi pen (Epinephrine) and Narcan, leaving London Drugs’ mobile facility in Duncan B.C. to the local Country Grocer on Salt Spring Island, and the direct, pin-pointed delivery to a patient’s home on Salt Spring Island. The UAS flew six kilometers in 11 minutes over the Pacific Ocean from London Drugs to the Country Grocer and customers on Salt Spring Island. 

Transport Canada will use the operational data collected from these trials to “inform BVLOS regulations moving forward in Canada,” according to London Drugs.

As part of ongoing testing, Canada Post is simulating deliveries over bodies of water, icy roads and challenging terrain to temporary camps and other remote locations.

“The delivery of prescription medications by drone to rural areas will be of great advantage to communities across the country including Northern Canada and as well to hospitals in remote communities where drones can land on hospital Heli pads,” says Philip Reece, CEO, InDro Robotics.