Technology boost: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu with CASR Director K. Senthil Kumar and G. Satheesh Reddy, Member, National Security Advisory Board and former Chairman, DRDO.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Andhra Pradesh government has partnered with the Dr. Kalam Advanced UAV Research Centre (CASR) at Anna University, Chennai, to develop the world’s first long-range, human-carrying drone ambulance.
Designed to transform emergency healthcare delivery, the drone ambulance will have a payload capacity of 150 kg and a flight endurance of up to 90 minutes. The project is aimed at ensuring rapid medical response in remote and underserved regions by leveraging advanced unmanned aerial vehicle technologies to save lives and strengthening public health infrastructure.
This is one of the key projects envisioned by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to modernise emergency healthcare and human transport systems.
“We are happy to be involved in this game-changer project, which will significantly enhance emergency medical logistics, particularly in remote and underserved areas,” CASR Director K. Senthil Kumar said. He said Anna University was the technology implementation partner and would also lead the formulation of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operation frameworks.
Cruising speed
Initially, the drone ambulance network would focus on unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of 50 km. The proposed human-carrying medical evacuation drone was expected to cruise at 50-60 kmph at an altitude of 1,000 feet-1,200 feet. Apart from patient transport, the network would support rapid delivery of medical supplies, blood, diagnostic samples, and emergency medical equipment.
Dr. Senthil Kumar said the implementation of a Unified Traffic Management (UTM) system would facilitate real-time tracking, geo-fencing, and automated airspace deconfliction to prevent mid-air conflicts. The drone ambulance would be equipped with redundant flight systems, fail-safe mechanisms, and autonomous emergency landing capabilities to ensure patient and public safety.
“Continuous monitoring, data-logging, and coordination with State emergency services and aviation authorities will allow rapid incident response, risk mitigation, and safe, reliable operations across Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
The UTM system, which Mr. Naidu suggested be renamed the Drone Traffic Management system, would also facilitate real-time flight planning, route approval, and dynamic airspace allocation for emergency missions, with dedicated emergency corridors and priority access to ensure the fastest possible response, he said.
Prototype to fly in May
The Chief Minister was impressed with the CASR’s presentation on the drone ambulance at a meeting held in Amaravati on January 16. “He has given a clear time frame for execution of the project. The first prototype, with a minimum payload, will be flown in the first week of May this year. A drone port and hub were being planned in Vijayawada,” Dr. Senthil Kumar said.
He said the drone ambulance would be equipped with essential medical supplies, including life-saving medicines and equipment. The Chief Minister had also asked the project team to enhance the payload capacity to accommodate a paramedic so as to instil greater confidence in patients. “The drone ambulance can land on rooftops or open grounds, enabling patients requiring emergency care to be airlifted to the nearest hospital within a 50-km radius.”
Published – January 18, 2026 09:56 pm IST
