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We Visited Drone-Delivery Start-up Zipline in Rwanda

We Visited Drone-Delivery Start-up Zipline in Rwanda
Courtesy of Zipline

Many African countries like Rwanda face daunting logistical issues. Infrastructure networks are frequently in poor condition, while local terrain, with its sizeable lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains, also presents severe obstacles. Transportation accidents are the third highest cause of death on the continent.

In the face of these challenges, Rwanda is looking to the skies for solutions. The country is now using Zipline, a drone delivery service, to convey medical supplies to remote areas.

We visited one of Ziplines’s bases, located one hour away from the capital city of Kigali.

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Bases outside Kigali, Zipline delivers medical supplies using autonomous drones. Since 2016, Zipline has been parachuting blood bags, frozen plasma, and platelets to urgent medical sites.

How Does Drone Delivery Work?

First, the order is placed inside a parachute that goes inside the fuselage of the drone. The drone is then assembled on a catapult: wings first, then the battery. An operator then checks the completed drone before launching.

When the pre-flight checks are done, the operator confirms that the drone is ready for takeoff. The drone can travel at speeds of up to 80 mph and uses a GPS for guidance. Ten to 20 minutes later, the drone drops the order and heads back to the base.

How Does the Drone Go Back to the Base?

A small hook on the drone’s tail catches hold of a cable that brings the drone to a stop. The battery and wings are taken off and the fuselage goes back into storage until its next mission.

65% of blood deliveries in Rwanda outside of Kigali use Zipline.

SEE ALSO: More stories on Africa

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