The medical supplies delivered under i-Drone project included COVID-19 vaccines, vaccines used routine immunisation programs, antenatal care medicines, multi-vitamins, syringes and gloves. The drone delivery system focused on end-to-end ecosystem for drone-based logistic transportation within the states and was first successful example of delivering vaccines through drone from land to Island in South Asia. The longest drone flight under this project carried 3525 units of medical supplies from Mokokchung to the district Tuensang in Nagaland (approx. 40 km). A total of 17,275 units of medical supplies were delivered through the drones in the states of Manipur and Nagaland. In-depth interviews with 35 officials and healthcare workers helped understand the challenges associated with delivering medical facilities in hard-to-reach areas and to assess the acceptability of novel technologies in the existing health infrastructure. About 70 healthcare workers were trained for packaging of vaccine boxes, loading and unloading of payload into and from the drones. Hands-on-training was provided to the local Healthcare workers, which enabled them to facilitate delivery of medical supplies by Drone. Preliminary findings indicated willingness of the local level stakeholders to use drone technology in logistic management pertaining to State level care delivery. The drones covered a total of 735 kms in terms of aerial distance in approximately 12 hours, whereas, the total road distance for all the sites would have been around 2000 kms, which might have taken 50 hours and demanded several other logistic challenges. Drones repeatedly and accurately delivered medical supplies faster than other methods deployed for delivery and without additional risks to personnel or manned airframe.

Leveraging upon the recent liberal regulation policies in India for low-altitude airspace for drones, the current feasibility study paved the path for using unmanned drones for delivery of life-saving medical supplies in austere environments in future.