Medical Drones on the Rise: Lessons from the ANWB Pilot

During the last Smart Safety & Security Talk organised by the Impact Coalitie Safety & Security, the ANWB medical drone pilot was the main topic of discussion. Since 22 September 2025, the organisation has been testing the transport of medical materials, such as blood bags and urine samples, between Zwolle and Meppel. With this initiative, ANWB aims to contribute to accessible and affordable healthcare.

“Drones can be helpful in logistics between medical facilities,” says Kevin Woensdregt, Drone Manager at ANWB Medical Air Assistance. “ANWB has been active with trauma helicopters for 30 years; this is a logical next step for us.”

The pilot is part of a collaboration between 14 partners who have been working since 2019 to optimise medical logistics. The specially developed drone flies at an altitude of 100 meters in uncontrolled airspace and is equipped with a parachute, allowing it to land safely without endangering people on the ground.

Logistics Opportunities and Future Outlook

Drone transport offers a reliable and affordable alternative during staff shortages. Especially in the northeast of the Netherlands, where healthcare facilities are increasingly centralised, fast logistics is essential. Some medical samples must be analysed within an hour. Where a taxi would normally be required, a drone can now take off and cover the distance just as fast or faster, without additional personnel. The current expectation is that drone transport will not expand to door-to-door delivery but will focus on fixed logistical hubs: take-off and landing sites where staff can swap batteries and load packages. From a control center in The Hague, pilots may eventually operate multiple drones simultaneously, potentially up to ten per person. The Netherlands is expected to have 60 to 80 medical drones, with 40 active at the same time.

Technology and Safety in the Air

The drones used by ANWB can take off vertically like a helicopter and fly horizontally like an airplane. They have a wingspan of 2.8 meters and distinctive yellow wings, inspired by trauma helicopters. The drones are currently equipped with two cameras that do not capture sharp images or store recordings, in line with privacy guidelines. The rear camera is necessary for safely landing on a QR-coded landing spot measuring three by three meters. A key lesson from the pilot is how drones can be integrated into airspace shared with manned aircraft. Even a drone nearly three meters in size is not visible from a cockpit. Research is therefore being conducted on how drones can be made electronically visible to pilots and how a national “drone map” can provide insight into drone flight paths. The consortium is also testing sensors that detect the presence of other flying objects; a first step toward a nationwide sensor and detection system.

Drones, Animals, and Regulations

Most birds fly below 75 meters, so drones at 100 meters have relatively little interaction with them. The pilot shows that flying predictably in a straight line prevents birds from becoming disoriented. Research is still ongoing to determine how bats react at take-off and landing sites. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W) is ultimately responsible for the airspace, together with the Air Force and Air Traffic Control in the Netherlands. Municipalities, however, play a role in granting permits for take-off and landing sites. It is also valuable for municipalities to stay informed about these developments so they can properly inform residents, businesses, and visitors.

The Next Step

If this medical pilot proves successful, a test over a densely populated area will follow. Here, the future may lie with short-range drones, wingless, more helicopter-like, and suitable for urban logistics.

Want to know more about the medical drone? Contact ANWB Medical Drones at drones@anwb-maa.nl. 

Impact Coalition Smart Safety & Security

See also other articles about drones: https://veiligesmartcities.nl/category/drones/