Bruce McPherson

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a significant increase in the number of drone delivery programmes that have been implemented and trialled across the UK and beyond.

Goldman Sachs recently reported that the global drone market could hit £80 billion if uses such as takeaway food delivery, border patrol and infrastructure surveillance are to continue their growth and become widespread.

In particular during the outbreak of COVID-19, drones have been used for the delivering of food and medical supplies to vulnerable persons in remote locations

The technology is also being utilised by the healthcare industry to transport test samples and medical supplies between facilities.

The Isle of Mull became the latest location in the UK to trial such a system, with Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership bringing in Thales and Skyports to provide the delivery of urgent medical cargo, including PPE.

Data-drive drone insurance provider flock insured the project, with CEO Ed Leon Klinger commenting: “A few years ago drone deliveries were no more than science fiction. Today they’re taking place around the world, helping to transport critical equipment like PPE and medication.”

Outside of the UK, drone deliveries for both medical and commercial purposes in Ireland, Canada, the United States and the rest of the world have grown in frequency in recent months, both before and since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.