AtkinsRéalis unveils drone landing pad for Project CAELUS

Led by AGS Airports, the CAELUS consortium consists of 16 organisations working towards autonomous medical drone delivery, with a particular view to supporting rural parts of Scotland. The ground-based infrastructure to support the network is being designed by AtkinsRéalis. Taking cues from nature, the lightweight aluminium landing pad folds outward like the petals of a flower, allowing a drone to land in the centre before the origami-like structure folds back in, creating a lid that can protect both vehicle and cargo.

According to AtkinsRéalis, solar PV will be used to generate power to operate the lid and recharge the drone where possible. The landing pads will be positioned at sites such as GP surgeries, medical centres and hospitals where the drones can land safely and the unit can be stored securely.

“There are a number of considerations in terms of the practical function of this pad as it has to be able to fit into a van or on a trailer to transport it, so it needs to be lightweight,” said Chris Crombie, lead designer on the project for AtkinsRéalis. “But at the same time it needs to be secure from the elements and strong enough for the job it’s designed for.