The U.S. Army is looking for developers to create prototype drones capable of transporting blood and medical supplies directly in the field under the Army Blood Link project.
According to a new request, each drone must transport at least 20 units of blood with a total weight of 35 to 50 pounds. The aircraft must provide a one-way transport radius of 30 kilometers with a maximum range of up to 100 kilometers, ascend to an altitude of up to 18,000 feet, and be ready for launch in just 30 minutes after receiving a mission.
Since blood is a highly sensitive material, a key requirement is precise temperature control. The cargo container must maintain the required temperature regime during three hours of transport in ambient temperatures ranging from 15°F to 120°F with high humidity. In addition, the vibration-, precipitation-, and dust-resistant compartment must accommodate standard blood bags measuring approximately 8 by 5 inches.
The drone must land with an accuracy of 10 meters from the target or drop the cargo from a height of 10–15 meters without damaging the medical supplies. The military plans to use semi-autonomous platforms with autonomous waypoint navigation and return-to-base functions under operator supervision.
Due to compressed timelines, the Army recommends focusing on the adaptation of existing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions. The deadline for applications is September 21, and finished prototypes must be delivered within three months of contract award.
