BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Aeronautics Division announced reported on Monday, March 17, that three companies successfully conducted tests using uncrewed aircraft systems (drones) for small package delivery in 2024.
The tests, which took place in August and October 2024, carried simulated payloads of under 10 pounds for at least one mile. The drone flights sought to assess using drones in the future for home-based healthcare and emergency medical response in the future.
MassDOT Aeronautics currently uses drones for transportation safety, infrastructure inspection, and incident response for MassDOT, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
“This medical delivery demonstration underscores the value of drones for many operational needs,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “Drones have already proven useful in operations, including MBTA track corridor inspections, MassDOT Highway bridge inspections, overhead project evaluations, and other needs. We continue to assess the use of drones for other purposes in the future.”
