Global Medical Drone Market Size (2023-2030)

The Medical Drone Market was valued at USD 255 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 1725.72million by 2030. The market is anticipated to expand at a healthy CAGR of 27% over the forecast period. Some of the factors driving the market's growth include technological improvements such as VTOL, geospatial mapping, IoT, and machine learning, which result in greater package delivery accuracy.

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

Medical drones are aerodynamic pods that convey medical supplies such as medications, vaccinations, and medical equipment. Medical drones are being designed to transport medical supplies in distant or inaccessible places, as well as war-torn areas, quickly and safely. Medical drones have seen increased use, mostly by the military and hospital sectors, due to advancements in technology and cost-cutting. Medical drones are still in the research and development stage, intending to create a revolutionary product with high delivery speed and precision. Medial drones are controlled manually to fly a precise route, and they have the benefit of requiring no landing area and being able to drop items from the lower flight. Medical drones' ability to fly over confined regions and without an operator is also an added benefit.

Medical drones have the potential to collect real-time data and carry payloads at a low cost, and they have sparked the fast expansion of a wide range of industrial, commercial, and recreational applications. In rural places, telecommunication drones are utilised for diagnosis and treatment, perioperative assessment, and telementoring. For microbiological and laboratory samples, medications, vaccinations, emergency medical equipment, and patient transport, drones have the potential to be a viable medical delivery mechanism. Drones are integrated into the current logistics network and used to expedite the client's goods, as per new advances.

The market for medical drones is primarily driven by cheap equipment costs and increased government research and development spending. Product approval regulations, on the other hand, have hampered the commercialization of medical drones since they are not permitted to fly freely or without authorization, which has hampered the market's growth. Furthermore, the growing use of medical drones in emergency or disaster situations is strengthening the market for medical drones.

COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE MEDICAL DRONES MARKET

During the Covid pandemic, drones proved to be quite effective in providing a variety of services. Drones are steadily exhibiting excellent work efficiency and productivity, whether used by the government for surveillance or by the health sector to deliver medications and supplies to remote places. During the ongoing COVID epidemic, the globe has witnessed the emergence of contactless package distribution through several techniques, but drone delivery has had the most influence on the delivery and logistics industry. Short-term supply chain disruptions spurred a greater adoption rate of drone delivery in sectors such as local businesses, restaurants, healthcare, telemedicine providers, and others to counteract slow development.The pandemic has opened the door for commercial delivery drones to enter the delivery market. The market is predicted to grow throughout the forecast period due to the rising demand for contactless delivery systems across the supply chain.

MARKET DRIVERS: 

Drones for medical applications are in high demand, which will propel market growth

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has pushed the deployment of drone technology for healthcare applications, public safety monitoring and surveillance, and the introduction of novel logistical alternatives to traditional supply chain approaches. Amid the COVID-19 epidemic, when human interaction has been suspected of being a vehicle of viral transmission, technology has emerged as a clear winner, which was previously viewed with scepticism by industry professionals and governments. During the forecast period, these factors have influenced the growth of the medical drone market.

Package delivery accuracy has improved by to technological breakthroughs such as VTOL, geospatial mapping, IoT, and machine learning which is further propelling the industry growth

Drone technology is improving, making them perfect instruments for obtaining certain types of ground data that may be combined with more traditional mapping methods. In contrast to the scale and range of a drone, satellites fulfil this task worldwide from orbit. Furthermore, because of the increased safety and beyond visual line of sight qualities that sense and avoid systems provide, their application in aerial delivery drones is on the rise. Cameras, radar, LiDAR, and other devices are used in sense and avoid systems to help identify and avoid obstacles. Drone package delivery operations can now be carried out autonomously and securely, thanks to technological developments in these systems, which are helping to drive their usage in the drone delivery ecosystem.

MARKET RESTRAINTS:

Market growth may be hampered by a lack of unified air traffic management and skilled pilots

UAVs are employed in a variety of medical applications, including emergency blood services, human organ logistics, and emergency medical supplies, to name a few.However, legal restrictions, operational capabilities, and clearances, as well as commercial and industrial uses, have imposed varied limits on OEMs and end-users. BVLOS flight operations and permissions have been allowed in a few nations, including Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ghana, Rwanda, India, and Nigeria. However, all aerial assets are unable to operate safely in regulated airspace due to a lack of unified air traffic management. A key issue is reducing the operational difficulties and drone-related mishaps that BVLOS aircraft experience. Furthermore, the scarcity of trained pilots for BVLOS flight operations has hampered the growing number of remotely flown drones for medical delivery applications.

Drones cannot operate in bad weather conditions which acts as a major restraint on market growth

Extreme weather conditions are a key risk that might significantly slow down the adoption of drones in the supply chain sector. Traditional delivery systems, which rely on trucks and vans, are unaffected by adverse weather. They're well protected from rain and other bad weather. Drones, on the other hand, have never been subjected to such safeguards. This will be a major issue when it comes to using drones in supply chain businesses, slowing industry growth.

MEDICAL DRONES  MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

This research report on the Medical Drone Market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on Type, Package Size, By Technology, Service type, By logistical Application, By End - Use and By Region.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET– BY TYPE

• Fixed Wing
• Rotary Wing
• Hybrid

Based on type, the medical drone market is segmented into Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, and hybrid. Among these, the Rotary- Wing drone category dominated the market in 2020. The market dominance is due to the wide application of these types of drones in monitoring, surveillance, medical supplies and public sanitization applications. Due to hybrid UAVs' exceptional capabilities for speedy vertical take-offs and landings, as well as AI-based collision avoidance detections, the hybrid category is expected to develop with stellar CAGR throughout the projected period. Because of their operational suitability, hybrid drones are frequently used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET– BY PACKAGE SIZE

• Less Than 2 Kg
• 2-5 Kg
• Above 5 Kg

Based on package size, the medical drone market is segmented into Less Than 2 Kg, 2-5 Kg and Above 5 Kgcategories. In 2020 and for the projected period, the less than 2 KG category will be the most dominating. Governments all around the world have given their initial experimental and operational permissions to the less than 2 KG category for unmanned logistics.

Due to manufacturers' technical advancements in drone payload capacities for next-generation logistical applications, including medical supply logistics, the 2–5 KG sector is the fastest-growing segment in the market.Due to strong demand across different industries, particularly the healthcare industry, for heavier and multiple payload capability unmanned systems, the larger than 5 KG segment is expected to rise at a considerable CAGR throughout the projection period.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET– BY TECHNOLOGY

• Fully Autonomous
• Semi-autonomous
• Remotely Operated

Based on technology, the medical drone market is segmented intoFully Autonomous, Semi-autonomous and Remotely Operated. The autonomous consumer drone market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of more than 20% between 2022 and 2030. The market is primarily driven because of its broad usage in collecting real-time data from steep terrains, unmapped ecosystems and landscapes, and stormy conditions. These drones have AI and machine learning algorithms built-in, allowing them to fly intelligently and reach areas where GPS is unavailable. The effectiveness of an autonomous drone is determined by its ability to fly independently using high-level inputs. To address consumer demands, some drone manufacturers are adding AI and machine learning technologies to next-generation autonomous drones.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET– BY SERVICE TYPE

• Hospital-based
• Independent
• Government

Based on service type, the medical drone market is segmented intoHospital-based, Independent and Government. Because of the steps done by governments throughout the world to continuously improve their healthcare systems to boost the efficiency of the medical supply chain, the government sector is the market's dominating segment. As a result, the segment is expected to expand throughout the projection period.Due to increased demand among healthcare institutions for UAV-based deliveries for different medical applications such as human organ logistics, medical supplies logistics, and other medical applications, the hospital-based category will be the fastest-growing sector during the projection period.During the projection period, the independent segment is set to rise at a considerable CAGR. The rise in demand and the emergence of firms in the medical drone delivery sector is to credit for this expansion.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET– BY LOGISTICAL APPLICATION

• Emergency Blood Logistics
• Vaccine Logistics
• Emergency Organ Logistics
• Others

Based on logistical application, the medical drone market is segmented intoEmergency Blood Logistics, Vaccine Logistics and Emergency Organ Logistics among others. Over the forecast period, the Emergency Blood Logistics segment is projected to increase by roughly 24%. To speed up HIV detection in newborns, drones are used to transport blood samples between healthcare institutions. Drones can also traverse three hours of travel in less than fifteen minutes. As a result, they serve a critical role in delivering blood to patients in the event of an emergency. Blood is also necessary for all major procedures and delivery. Many individuals die as a result of blood deprivation in emergency or trauma situations. As a consequence, the growing need for speedy blood supply will drive up drone usage, boosting the segment's development.

In 2018, the vaccine logistics segment was worth more than USD 18 million, and it is expected to increase at a rapid pace in the coming years. Medical drones' benefits in delivering vaccinations to remote places in less time are credited with the industry's rise.  Furthermore, organisations such as UNICEF are sponsoring medical drones to make vaccinations available in emergency situations and in distant places, which is fuelingthe market growth.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET- BY END-USE

• Emergency Medical Service
• Blood Bank
• Hospital
• Others

Based on end-use, the medical drone market is segmented intoEmergency Medical services, Blood banks and Hospitals among others. Over the forecast period, emergency medical services (EMS) are projected to increase by roughly 25%. Access to treatment in emergencies such as cardiac arrest and automobile accidents is a concern for developing and underdeveloped countries. EMS is in charge of providing relevant interventions promptly, as well as speedy assessment and transfer to the nearest health institution. Drones canrevolutionise emergency services and save countless lives. Doctors will be able to give better care if vaccinations, blood, drugs, and other medical supplies can be delivered in less time. As a result, growing the use of medical drones in EMS will boost demand, resulting in segmental development.

In 2018, the blood banks industry was worth around USD 31 million. Due to poor road conditions, blood transportation in developing nations is a big challenge. Blood, plasma, and platelets are transported by medical drones from blood banks to hospitals and clinics in remote locations. In emergencies such as pregnancy, operations, organ transplants, and cerebrovascular illnesses, timely blood supply helps to avert problems. As a result, blood banks are increasingly using drones to supply blood, implying that the industry will continue to develop.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET- BY REGION

• North America
• Europe
• The Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• The Middle East
• Africa

By region, the Medical Drone Market is grouped into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, The Middle East and Africa.With a market size of USD 79.88 million in 2020, North America emerged as a market leader. The presence of prominent producers in the US, such as Zipline, UPS Flight Forward, Amazon Prime Air, Flirtey, and others, is propelling the market's regional expansion.

Europe is the second-largest market, thanks to accommodating rules, a high rate of investment in unmanned technology by OEMs and governments, and a slew of government programmes aimed at bolstering the healthcare system in the face of the ongoing pandemic.
The Asia Pacific region is also projected to contribute significantly to the market growth. The market growth in the Asia Pacific is due to the region's high adoption rate and investment by OEMs and governments, as well as the presence of OEMs in the region, such as DJI, and market expansion by global market players like Zipline.During the forecast period, the Middle East is expected to be the fastest-growing area. Regional governments such as Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, and others have invested heavily in various medical applications, resulting in regional market growth. Investment blitz in Middle Eastern countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Israel is propelling the market expansion in the region.

MEDICAL DRONES MARKET- BY COMPANIES

The delivery drone business is extremely fragmented, with a slew of new firms entering the market. With the entry of competitors from the logistics, healthcare, and food delivery sectors into the drone industry, delivery drone makers have faced greater rivalry. The firms are investing in expanding their fleet of drones and starting operations with new regulatory permits to grow their market share.Some of the major players operating in the Medical Drone Market include:

1. Zipline Inc.
2. Volocopter GmbH
3. Volansi Inc.
4. Matternet Inc
5. Manna Drone Delivery Inc.
6. Flytrex Aviation Ltd.
7. Flirtey Holdings Inc. 
8. Vayu Inc.
9. Skyports Ltd.
10. Ebre Drone LLC
11. Swoop Aero Pty. Ltd. 
12. Skyfarer Ltd.

NOTABLE HAPPENING IN THE MEDICAL DRONES MARKET

• PRODUCT LAUNCH- In April 2020, AI Aerial Dynamics, a startup in Kerala, India, launched Garud, an AI-based UAV that monitors body temperature, sprays disinfectants, and delivers critical goods to help treat COVID-19. It can support up to 60 kilogrammes in weight.
• PRODUCT LAUNCH- Wingcopter, a German manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for medical and humanitarian applications, has released the Wingcopter 198, an all-electric VTOL fixed-wing UAV (Hybrid UAV) that is a game-changer in drone-based logistics for a variety of medical, commercial, and industrial applications, in April 2021.
• INVESTMENT- The Australian government announced plans to invest USD 28 million in the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program in May 2021, as part of the National Emerging Aviation Technologies (NEAT) Policy Statement, which governs the country's drone industry. The market is expected to increase as a result of such reasons.
• COLLABORATION- Aeras, a U.S.-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 137 certified drone operator was contracted in May 2021 to spray aerial disinfectants at major sports and entertainment venues.