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A medical technician places a specialized cold-chain transport box into a drone's cabin. [Photo/Tide News]

Shaoxing Second Hospital has launched an "instant air delivery corridor" using a drone-based low-altitude logistics system to achieve rapid transport, buying precious time for patients. Since its launch in April, the system has completed over 1,088 flights, delivered 16,608 blood samples, and provided doorstep medicine delivery to more than 120 residents, significantly improving medical efficiency.

On Dec 22, a drone took off from the Lanting campus of Shaoxing Second Hospital and delivered blood samples to the Yan'an Road campus, 9 kilometers away, in just 10 minutes. Compared with traditional ground transport, drones have cut delivery time by more than half, optimizing equipment and human resource allocation between the two campuses and significantly reducing labor and material costs.

With a wingspan of about 2 meters, a maximum payload of 10 kilograms, and a range of up to 20 km, the drone can carry approximately 300 blood sample tubes per flight. It is powered by an intelligent flight system capable of autonomous, scheduled, and precise point-to-point navigation along fixed routes.

The service has also been extended to surrounding communities. Community medicine delivery time has been reduced from 15 minutes to 5 minutes — an efficiency increase of nearly 70 percent — making it easier for elderly patients and those with chronic conditions to receive their medications at their doorstep.