VIDEO: DELIVERY DRONE NETWORK SET TO TAKE FLIGHT IN SWITZERLAND!

Matternet has long used Switzerland as a testing ground for its delivery drone technology, and now it is taking things up a notch. The company has revealed plans to launch the first permanent autonomous drone delivery system in Switzerland, where its flying robot couriers will shuttle blood and pathology samples between hospital facilities. The Matternet Station drone lands, locks itself into place and swaps both its battery and cargo (loaded into boxes by humans, who scan QR codes for access). Stations even have their own mechanisms to manage drone traffic if the skies are busy.

Company chief Andreas Raptopoulos expects the drone network to transfer medical supplies within 30 minutes, and the reliability of a largely automated system means that hospitals don't have to worry about unpredictable delivery times (particularly on the ground). Matternet explains that there will only be one or two drones per network and, if this network succeeds, it might pursue other countries. Expanding to Germany and the UK will only happen once it is comfortable with Switzerland. 

Have a look at the Matternet Station drone delivering blood samples in the video below.