Varese (Italy), June 2025 – As part of the U‑ELCOME (U‑space European COMmon dEpLoyment) project, ABzero has achieved a major milestone by successfully conducting a complex night-time drone delivery of medical supplies within the Circolo Hospital of Varese.
This trial marked an advanced testing phase in the creation of an aerial logistics corridor connecting Milan Malpensa Airport Cargo City with the Varese lake district and local hospitals—specifically Ospedale del Ponte and Ospedale di Circolo. The objective was to demonstrate fully automated, reliable, and timely delivery of urgent pharmaceuticals and medical materials, even under critical environmental and operational conditions.
ABzero deployed its proprietary Smart Capsule system integrated with the electric hexacopter DB-X6000 Pro RTK, entirely managed via the Spoke mobile platform. The drone simulated a real medical delivery, taking off from the hospital’s helipad and reaching designated areas within the healthcare facility, including the blood sampling center and various clinical wings.
Several factors contributed to the high level of technical complexity: a dense urban environment with vertical structures and narrow flight paths, limited illumination and reduced visibility during night-time, electromagnetic interference and turbulence induced by buildings, and the need for precision navigation through regulated urban air corridors within a U-space framework. Despite these challenges, the system demonstrated excellent reliability and operational readiness, confirming ABzero’s capability to operate in highly regulated and sensitive environments.
The successful outcome of this test represents a crucial step toward integrating drone systems into high-priority healthcare logistics. The deployment of autonomous, decarbonized medical delivery solutions can generate measurable benefits: significant reduction in CO₂ emissions by eliminating ground-based transport, shortened delivery times especially during night hours or emergencies, and optimization of healthcare personnel time and resources by minimizing logistical burdens.
This result was made possible through the active collaboration of SEA Milan Airports, the Municipality of Varese, and other institutional and technological partners: ENAC, ENAV, D-Flight, EuroUSC Italia, Telespazio, Techno Sky, Dronus, and DroneBase.
ABzero also acknowledges the forward-looking position of ASST Sette Laghi, which has called for a thorough evaluation of the service’s medium-term feasibility. This responsible approach reflects the sensitive nature of healthcare operations and provides a foundation for developing sustainable, safe, and clinically integrated adoption models.
The U‑ELCOME project confirms ABzero’s role as an innovation leader in intelligent healthcare logistics. The integration of our systems within advanced U-space ecosystems marks a key milestone in the transition toward a new operational paradigm, where speed, safety, traceability, and sustainability are foundational elements of future healthcare infrastructure.
For further insights:
ABzero on LinkedIn and video
AirCargo on LinkedIn
Article on VareseNews