Global Fellow alum, Adam Reineck, rejoins the IDEO.org team to help bring drones to last-mile health delivery and starts by considering how we might change the negative perception currently surrounding drones. 

As we continue with our research into drones for last-mile health delivery we’ve thought more and more about what it means to be a drone, what they’re really good at, and why they are either loved or hated depending on who you talk to. 

We would like to propose an end to using the word drone. It’s loaded, not self explanatory, and currently describes any Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). To reference biological classification, we have now identified 4 genus of flying vehicles that are each distinct in their functionality and behavior. Each of these could have a number of species that perform specific functions within the higher genus class, but at a generic level here they are. Can you think of others?

GLIDER

• Flies long distances at both low and high altitudes.
• Good for visual feedback, repetitive tasks, and potential to deploy smaller vehicles.

CARRIER

• Delivers packages across short distances <20km.
• Needs support infrastructure at each destination in order to recharge. 
• Good for accessing hard to reach places, filling in holes in supply chains, and running errands.

FLOAT

• Stays within a predetermined region. 
• Moves slowly and could be self powered. 
• Good for creating communication networks, visual feedback, and cooperating with other UAVs.

BUG

• Generally lightweight and small in size.
• Deployed locally to pick up and transmit data.
• Good for “set it and forget it” tasks.