Here in the U.S., we take for granted the ability to quickly and easily obtain medicine. Hospitals and pharmacies are nearly ubiquitous, and where they are sparse the Postal Serivce is able to pick up most of the slack. In countries with wide expanses of rural wilderness, some of which become inaccessible by road during rainy seasons, obtaining medical supplies is far, far tricker. That's where
MatterNet and its
quadrotor delivery bots come in.
Much as the Pony Express provided (albeit briefly) delivery services to the American frontier, MatterNet hopes to form a network of automated delivery robots can help bring small cargos to outlying regions in developing countries. On their own, the ruggedized quadrotors can carry a 4-pound cargo some 6 miles. Once in the field, the robotic courriers would use GPS beacons to home in on their targets to deliver medicine, or medical testing supplies.
Of course, 4 pounds over six miles is not impressive on its own.
Read on...
