ITOCHU Announces Conducting Proof of Concept for Transporting Research Blood Product Using Drones in Okinawa Prefecture Testing Measures to Respond to Future Labor Shortages, Delivery Issues, and Urgent Need
November 8, 2024
ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it will conduct a proof of concept experiment ("the experiment") transporting blood products*1 for research between the cities of Urasoe and Nago in Okinawa Prefecture, a distance of 53 kilometers. The experiment will commence from November 27, 2024, and will be conducted in collaboration with ANA HOLDINGS INC., Okinawa Prefectural Hokubu Hospital, Sugiyama Gen Co., Ltd., Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, and the Okinawa Red Cross Blood Center. ANA HOLDINGS was chosen as the project lead for the experiment as a part of Okinawa Prefecture's 2024 Testbed Demonstration Support Project*2, with ITOCHU joining as a joint partner.
The experiment will verify the effectiveness and economic potential of using drones to reduce delivery worker workload for the transport of blood products to northern areas of Okinawa Prefecture, something that requires time and effort due to the geographical characteristics of the region. Additionally, the experiment will establish a delivery process utilizing practical methods and equipment assuming greater front-line operations and verify the operational practicality of this process. This will be done in cooperation with Hiroshi Fujita, a doctor with knowledge of transfusion medicine at Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh, and collaborators at Okinawa Prefectural Hokubu Hospital and the Okinawa Red Cross Blood Center. The experiment will utilize Wingcopter 198, an eVTOL drone produced by Germany-based Wingcopter GmbH with high load capacity and speed, and will incorporate temperature-controlled containers provided by Sugiyama Gen Co., Ltd. In doing so, the experiment will verify the medical practicality of blood product delivery from a quality perspective.
Conventional delivery windows are limited, but drone-based delivery allows the required amount to be delivered when needed, enabling an efficient supply of blood products in emergencies and disasters. In the future, drone delivery with simultaneous operations of multiple drones will be incorporated into existing automobile-based delivery networks, providing efficiency and helping to maintain a sustainable healthcare system. Additionally, based on established temperature-controlled transport technology, the experiment aims for the future implementation of safe drone delivery services for urgently needed pharmaceutical products and medical supplies.
ITOCHU has established its The Brand-New Deal: Profit Opportunities are Shifting Downstream management policy and is developing its business areas by tracking the needs of sellers, buyers and consumers as they diversify along with the changes in society and by pioneering and transforming its businesses, beginning with its downstream operations. Leveraging this demonstration test, ITOCHU will build a drone delivery network using the high-performance eVTOL Wingcopter 198 drone, aiming to address the diverse needs and issues of society.
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Outline of The Experiment
1. Purpose:To simulate the feasibility and economic performance of drone-based transport of blood products 2. Details:A drone will be used to transport blood products for research from the Okinawa Red Cross Blood Center to Okinawa Prefectural Hokubu Hospital 3. Period: 9:00-18:00 (until sunset) from Wednesday November 27 to Sunday December 1, 2024 *Some test flights may be suspended due to inclement weather. 4. Flight Sector: Inanse Ballpark in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture - Nago Fishing Port in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture 5. Deliverables: Red Blood Cells (RBC) and Whole Blood 6. Aircraft Used: eVTOL Wingcopter 198 drone, produced by Wingcopter GmbH 1)Size: 66×198×167 cm[HWL] 2)Max take-off weight: 24.9 kg 3)Max load: 4.5 kg 4)Operational flight speed: max 133 km/h (in fixed-wing mode) 7. Flight Route(see above map) Flight level will be Level 3 Operations, meaning operations out of the line of sight of the operator in unmanned zones (BVLOS*3). Partial incorporation of operational management systems will allow for safe and effective operations in compliance with guidelines on the delivery of medical supplies by drone. *Parts of the flight route may be altered due to weather conditions. |
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*1Blood products for research: donated blood meant for research and development that does not meet the requirements for use in blood transfusions. For details, please refer to the website:
https://www.jrc.or.jp/donation/blood/koubo/kouboR6/ - *2The 2024 Testbed Demonstration Support Project (a support project offered by Okinawa Prefecture): a project providing support for proof of concept experiments conducted within the prefecture by companies with innovative digital technology and services. The project aims to create innovation and solve social issues.
- *3Beyond Visual Line of Sight: a flight of an unmanned aircraft where the operator cannot determine the location, position, or safety of the aircraft with their own eyes.
The Roles of Each Partner in The Experiment
Organizations | Role | |
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ANA HOLDINGS INC. | Person in Charge | Experiment coordination, drone preparations, take-off and landing site coordination, and drone operations |
ITOCHU Corporation | Business Partner | Drone provision, flight route verification, and support in coordinating the delivery of blood products for research |
Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital | Joint Research | Provision of blood products for research and analysis of experiment results |
Okinawa Red Cross Blood Center | Cooperators | Overland transport of blood products for research to designated take-off site and provision of facilities |
Sugiyama Gen Co., Ltd. | Cooperators | Prototype creation and provision of refrigerated storage for transport of blood products for research |
Okinawa Prefectural Hokubu Hospital | Cooperators | Acknowledgment of receipt of blood products for research |
Nago City Hall | Cooperators | Local coordination and coordination of community stakeholders |
Urasoe City Hall | Cooperators | Local coordination and coordination of community stakeholders |
MRO Japan Co., Ltd. | Cooperators | Drone storage |
ANA Akindo Co., Ltd. | Cooperators | Local coordination support |
Reference information
Initiatives With ITOCHU's Wingcopter
- Significantly reducing transportation time with the first drone transportation across Uchiura Bay in Hokkaido
ITOCHU Announces Medical Devices Transportation Proof of Concept Using the Latest eVTOL Drone “Wingcopter 198” from Germany| Press Release | ITOCHU Corporation (itochu.co.jp)
- First type certification application by a foreign manufacturer for 1st class fixed-wing drones that was accepted by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
First Type Certification Application for 1st Class Fixed-Wing Drones Accepted by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism| Press Release | ITOCHU Corporation (itochu.co.jp)