Project CAELUS breakthrough revealed at Glasgow Science Centre
Image courtesy Project CAELUS
Around 70 delegates from across the country attended the AGS-led Project CAELUS Showcase, where key findings and innovations from the trailblazing initiative were unveiled.
The 16-member consortium has been working to revolutionise healthcare logistics by developing Scotland’s first national medical drone network.
As the lead health board, NHS Grampian has championed a 'once for Scotland' approach, exploring how drone technology can transform access to healthcare, particularly in remote and rural areas.
The event, attended by industry leaders, also featured key addresses from UK Aviation Minister Mike Kane and Scottish Business and Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead, underscoring the project’s national significance.
Fiona Smith, Sustainability Director at AGS Airports said: “It has been a pleasure to lead CAELUS as the project director for the last four years.
“There has been some incredible work by our consortium through our live flight trials in various parts of Scotland. Sharing our findings and research today means Project CAELUS will have a lasting legacy.”
Over 2024, live flight trials were conducted across Scotland using drones to rapidly transport medical supplies and diagnostic samples between mainland hospitals and remote or rural locations.
Aviation Minister, Mike Kane said: “I’m thrilled to see innovative uses of drones having a positive impact on people’s lives, enabling greater access to vital healthcare supplies and services, as well as supporting jobs and opportunities.
“It’s fantastic that Project CAELUS has brought innovators, health trusts and others together to revolutionise how the future aviation sector can support valued institutions like the NHS and also boost the economy, delivering on our Plan for Change.
Having received a total of £8.5 million funding from the UK Industrial Strategy Future Flight Challenge Fund, since it started in January 2020, the CAELUS project has demonstrated how autonomous drone technology can enhance access to essential medical supplies, particularly in rural parts of Scotland.
The CAELUS consortium has proto-typed drone landing stations for NHS sites across Scotland and developed a digital simulator to support the modelling of delivery networks nationally. This has the potential to connect hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres and GP surgeries across Scotland in the future.
Adam Coldwells, Interim Chief Executive of NHS Grampian, said: "We are proud to be the lead health board supporting colleagues across Scotland to input into Project CAELUS. Co-chairing the NHS CAELUS Steering Group as well as participating in the UK Advisory Group for the Future Flight Challenge has given me real insight into the role drones can play in supporting our staff and our patients, and how we best achieve that. Project CAELUS is a great example of the excellent partnership working which will help us deliver a bright, sustainable future for our NHS."
Karen Bell, National NHS Innovation Programme Lead in NHS Grampian, has supported all health boards across Scotland to participate in Project CAELUS. She commented: "By working together we've been able to demonstrate the potential this technology has to transform the future of healthcare, particularly in rural areas. We've shown we can integrate with colleagues managing our air space, as well as regulatory bodies and suppliers to save time when it is most precious. We have developed ways to deliver medical supplies using drones safely and effectively."
Dr Marco Fossati, the University of Strathclyde's principal investigator for the project, said: "The transformative potential of drone networks in delivering critical medical supplies cannot be overstated. Together with my research team at Strathclyde, we developed a digital blueprint for a drone delivery network that could connect hospitals, pathology laboratories, distribution centres, and GP surgeries across Scotland, revolutionising healthcare logistics.
“This project exemplifies the University of Strathclyde’s interdisciplinary strengths, with vital contributions from across our faculties, including from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, the Business School, Management Science, Computer Science, Civil Engineering and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation."
