Maryland to test drones for medical deliveries, emergency response

Gov. Wes Moore on Tuesday announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the state a $1.76 million grant to test drones to deliver medical packages to rural communities off the Eastern Shore.

The pilot program will use drones to deliver medical packages between Crisfield and Smith Island, home to roughly 350 residents, who typically receive supplies from the mainland from commercial boats.

“All Marylanders deserve equitable access to health care and health care resources,” Moore said in a press release. “This funding will strengthen our capacity to support our rural communities and presents an important opportunity to learn more about how enhanced technology can be deployed to serve those in need.”

The program will test how drones can assist the state in reaching rural communities during natural disasters and other emergencies.

 “This project will not only advance new innovative approaches to providing support for ongoing needs, it will also advance how these technologies may be used in resiliency planning and reaching hard to reach places after disaster recovery,” Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca Flora said in the announcement.

The funding comes from the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation, or SMART, grant program, which annually distributes $100 million in federal funding to improve community technology, transportation efficiency and safety.

According to the announcement, the Maryland Department of Planning will manage the grant while the University of Maryland UAS Research and Operations Center will serve as the project’s technical lead. They’ll partner with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Aviation Science Program and the School of Pharmacy to coordinate deliveries.

Before the pilot program can begin, Maryland must select a commercial drone services provider and apply for Federal Aviation Administration permits, which include drone registrations, tests and airspace authorizations.