Central Govt Invites Bids For Drones To Supply Covid-19 Vaccines In Areas With Difficult Terrain: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government is set to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to deliver Covid-19 vaccines in areas having difficult terrains in the country, reports News18.

“UAV should be able to follow a predefined flight plan and have real-time visibility of adherence to flight plan. The UAV must follow fully autonomous take-off, flight and landing along GPS way-points,” the EOI said

This decision is taken following a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) confirming the feasibility of such an exercise.

State-owned HLL Lifecare subsidiary HLL Infra Tech Services Ltd has called for an expression of interest (EOI) on behalf of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the aforementioned supply of drugs and vaccines through UAVs to particular locations in the country.

The ICMR is pursuing UAVs that have the capability to fly at least at an altitude of 100 meters and capacity to traverse around 35 kms with the supplies.

It is also required to carry a payload of minimum four kilograms, take off vertically and also successfully return back to the command station once the delivery is carried out successfully.

Parachute-based delivery has been discouraged whereas the UAV must have several fail-safe alternatives along and also adhere to the norms of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).