Residents in rural North Carolina will soon get meds delivered by drone

Drug-maker Merck and drone-maker Volansi have teamed up to deliver medication to residents in rural parts of North Carolina.
Residents in rural North Carolina will soon get meds delivered by drone
Volansi‘s seven-foot-long โGemini’ quadcopter will be used to transport the medical supplies, such as vaccines, glaucoma treatments, insulin, and asthma inhalers โ from Merck’s Wilson, NC drug lab to the Vidant Healthplex-Wilson, reports Engadget. More than 1.4 million people across 29 counties in eastern North Carolina are served through this network.
โWe’ve seen the world’s supply chain strained like never before from the impact of Coronavirus,โ said Hannan Parvizian, CEO of Volansi, said in a press statement. “There’s now an accelerated need for rapid advancements in supply chain technology, especially in healthcare. Drone delivery is one solution to getting critical supplies where they are needed, at the moment they are needed most.”
Volansi’s Gemini drones are vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft with a maximum speed of 60 mph and a range of 50 miles. The drones can carry payloads of up to 10 pounds.
Once the Gemini drone arrives at its destination it will land and release its package automatically.
Volansi is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand its medical drone deliver program with two additional phases that would cover a much larger area.
Stay in touch!
If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest drone news, scoops, rumors, and reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or…
Subscribe to our Daily Drone News email.*
Submit tips If you have information or tips that you would like to share with us, feel free to submit them here.ย Support DroneXL.co: You can support DroneXL.co by using these links when you make your next drone purchase: Adorama, Amazon, B&H, BestBuy, eBay, DJI, Parrot, and Yuneec. We make a small commission when you do so at no additional expense to you. Thank you for helping DroneXL grow!ย FTC: DroneXL.co uses affiliate links that generate income.
* We do not sell, share, rent out or spam your email, ever. Our email goes out on weekdays around 5:30 p.m.
Discover more from DroneXL.co
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Proposed legislation threatens your ability to use drones for fun, work, and safety. The Drone Advocacy Alliance is fighting to ensure your voice is heard in these critical policy discussions.Join us and tell your elected officials to protect your right to fly.
Get your Part 107 Certificate
Pass the Part 107 test and take to the skies with the Pilot Institute. We have helped thousands of people become airplane and commercial drone pilots. Our courses are designed by industry experts to help you pass FAA tests and achieve your dreams.

Copyright ยฉ DroneXL.co 2025. All rights reserved. The content, images, and intellectual property on this website are protected by copyright law. Reproduction or distribution of any material without prior written permission from DroneXL.co is strictly prohibited. For permissions and inquiries, please contact us first. DroneXL.co is a proud partner of the Drone Advocacy Alliance. Be sure to check out DroneXL's sister site, EVXL.co, for all the latest news on electric vehicles.
FTC: DroneXL.co is an Amazon Associate and uses affiliate links that can generate income from qualifying purchases. We do not sell, share, rent out, or spam your email.