Developing a drone delivery system for blood in Bangalore, India
Author
Bobela, Stanislaw
Term
4. term
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-04-04
Abstract
This master's thesis explores the feasibility of using unmanned aerial systems (drones) to transport blood in Bangalore, India, where severe traffic congestion hampers timely deliveries. Working with Manipal Hospital HAL and industry partner Novatech Robo, the project defines a four-phase development path and focuses on Phase I: demonstrating that a drone service can deliver blood components at lower cost without damaging the cargo. Methods include interviews with blood bank personnel; mapping the current auto-rickshaw-based service using SIPOC diagrams and integrated flow charts; capturing the voice of the customer with a KANO model; and designing a to-be service with routes, touch points, SOPs, and maintenance practices informed by 5S, Kaizen, and Poka-Yoke. In parallel, three quadcopter prototypes were developed and evaluated, with Prototype #3 selected for near-term testing, and a cost-benefit analysis was prepared to compare the proposed drone service with the existing model. The thesis outlines regulatory and implementation challenges and presents a practical concept of operations. Due to time and permission constraints, Phase I flight tests and clinical validation were not completed within the thesis period, so empirical results are pending.
Dette speciale undersøger, om ubemandede luftsystemer (droner) kan bruges til at transportere blod i Bangalore, Indien, hvor alvorlige trafikpropper hæmmer rettidige leverancer. I samarbejde med Manipal Hospital HAL og industripartneren Novatech Robo defineres en udviklingsplan i fire faser med fokus på fase I: at demonstrere, at en droneservice kan levere blodkomponenter til lavere omkostninger uden at beskadige lasten. Metoderne omfatter interviews med personale fra blodbanken; kortlægning af den nuværende, autorickshaw-baserede levering via SIPOC-diagrammer og integrerede flowcharts; indsamling af kundebehov via KANO-modellen; samt design af en fremtidig service med ruter, touchpoints, SOP'er og vedligeholdelsespraksis inspireret af 5S, Kaizen og Poka-Yoke. Parallelt er tre quadcopter-prototyper udviklet og vurderet, hvor prototype #3 er udvalgt til nært forestående test, og en cost-benefit-analyse er udarbejdet til sammenligning af droneservicen med den eksisterende model. Specialet belyser regulatoriske og praktiske implementeringsudfordringer og præsenterer et operationelt koncept. På grund af tid og tilladelser blev fase I-flytests og klinisk validering ikke afsluttet inden for specialets tidsramme, og empiriske resultater afventer derfor.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]