Fig 1.
UN3373 PI650 compliant packaging.
Left–sample, contained in leakproof primary and secondary packaging with absorbent material; right–Versapak insulated outer packaging (centre (‘medium’) = 460mm (w), 255mm (D), 305mm (H)).
Fig 2.
A render of a Mugin-5 Pro, 5m wing-span VTOL fixed-wing UAV, with a human for scale.
Fig 3.
A medium sized Versapak (460mm (w), 255mm (D), 305mm (H)) loaded into the hold.
Fig 4.
Example exclusion zone for take-off/landing, as used in flight trials for similar loads–approximately 100m2 [68].
Fig 5.
Locations of GP Surgeries in the Southampton area, coloured by landing site suitability.
OK = suitable for a 5m fixed-wingspan craft to land with a reasonable safety buffer and existing facilities not significantly impacted (e.g., qty. of car park spaces taken). Small = suitable for 2m VTOL UAV. No = not suitable for a UAV of any size. Only landing site considered, risk of flight to site not considered. Private land not considered due to long term feasibility. Base map and data from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation.
Fig 6.
Surgery locations–coloured by daily sample production rate.
Base map and data from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation.
Fig 7.
Plot of GP sample records for Southampton—"Bleed Time" (Time Taken) vs. Time Received at SGH laboratory.
March 2021 and November 2018 datasets shown to demonstrate minimal long-term change.
Fig 8.
GP Surgeries in the Southampton area coloured by GO/NO-GO Status.
GO = suitable for a 5m fixed-wingspan craft to land without excessive ground overflight risk (mean risk of a fatality on the ground due to a UAV crashing along its flightpath = 1×10−7 or lower). Airspace restrictions are not considered. Base map and data from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation.
Fig 9.
Locations of Doctors’ surgeries included in the investigation.
Grey lines indicate UAV flightpaths. Base map and data from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation.
Table 1.
Summary of flights, samples and costs for the UAV collection service.
Fig 10.
Number of flights per day for the UAV collection service during March 2021.
Table 2.
Example daily flight schedule for the UAV collection service.
Table 3.
Weekly road vehicle total costs, round times, van vkm, and CO2 emissions (inc. contingency taxis).