News

ABzero Srl, an Italian company at the forefront of intelligent healthcare logistics using drones, is among the key partners of SOPRANO (Secure and Precise Positioning for Autonomous Navigation), a project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the NAVISP Element 1 program. The initiative aims to develop a robust and high-precision Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) system that integrates multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS with 5G connectivity to enable safe and reliable operation in critical environments.

SOPRANO addresses the need for resilient positioning solutions in urban or complex areas where satellite signals are often degraded, obstructed, or spoofed. The hybrid GNSS/5G architecture under development is designed to support a new generation of autonomous systems.

SOPRANO project consortium

The project brings together a multidisciplinary European consortium with expertise in navigation, telecommunications, autonomy, and regulation:

• Thales Alenia Space France – project coordinator and a European leader in space infrastructure.

• Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC) – Italy, a centre of excellence in civil aviation and U-space integration.

• Fondazione LINKS – Italy, specialized in advanced positioning technologies, digital innovation, and system interoperability.

• ABzero Srl – Italy, pioneer in automated healthcare transport using smart capsules and autonomous drones.

• LEAT – Université Côte d’Azur – France, focused on secure communication, sensor fusion, and cyber-physical systems.

• Helios Technology (Egis Group) – United Kingdom, expert in regulatory frameworks, safety, and airspace integration.

ABzero’s role in SOPRANO

ABzero contributes real-world experience from emergency healthcare logistics, where positioning accuracy and traceability are mission-critical. Through SOPRANO, ABzero will enhance the performance and safety of its autonomous drone operations, ensuring precise delivery of medical supplies such as blood, organs, and pharmaceuticals—even in challenging environments.

Towards a resilient and sovereign European autonomous mobility ecosystem

SOPRANO represents a key technological step toward enabling next-generation autonomous mobility through a hybrid, reliable PNT infrastructure. The project is aligned with ESA’s vision to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty in strategic sectors and foster dual-use innovation with impact across civil and critical operations.

For more information, visit: SOPRANO – NAVISP Project #335

At the end of 2024, the ABzero Export project, promoted within the “Internationalization 2023” call by the Tuscany Region, was successfully completed. The initiative marked a significant step forward in ABzero’s journey toward international expansion, laying the strategic groundwork for sustainable growth in global markets.

Throughout the project, ABzero carried out all the planned activities aimed at strengthening the company’s international readiness. Key actions included:

• Market analysis to identify the most promising international opportunities for our patented smart medical transport solution;

• Adaptation of communication materials and the corporate website for international audiences;

• Expansion of the commercial network, including scouting and engagement with strategic partners and stakeholders across Europe and beyond;

• Participation in international trade fairs and industry events, to promote our technology and gather valuable market insights;

• Definition of a medium- to long-term internationalization strategy, including actionable plans for entering selected target markets.

The success of ABzero Export confirms the strength of our business model and the relevance of our technology within the global landscape of advanced medical logistics. The experience gained through this project strengthens the company’s positioning as a reference player, ready to embrace new challenges and seize international opportunities.

We would like to thank the Tuscany Region for their support, as well as all the partners and collaborators who contributed to this growth journey.

ABzero now looks confidently to the next phase of international development, with the goal of bringing Italian innovation and quality to serve healthcare systems around the world.

April 16, 2025 – During an international webinar hosted by WeRobotics for the Flying Labs network, Giuseppe Tortora, CEO of ABzero, presented the company’s cutting-edge solutions for medical drone logistics.

In his talk, Tortora introduced the Smart Capsule, an autonomous and multimodal system designed to ensure the safe transport of blood, blood components, organs, and medicines. Fully compliant with aviation regulations, the system enables fast and automated delivery operations, significantly reducing response times in emergency scenarios.

The presentation highlighted how ABzero’s proprietary technology empowers healthcare personnel — even those without technical expertise — to operate drones safely and efficiently, thereby expanding access to critical medical services.

With this contribution, ABzero reaffirmed its commitment to digital health innovation and to supporting communities through technologies that prioritize automation, accessibility, and human safety.

The session took place on April 16, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM GMT, by invitation of the global Flying Labs community.

With the collaboration of Menta srl, the first experimental flights between Neviano degli Arduini and Langhirano, in the Parma Apennines, have been successfully completed. These flights connected seven different routes to transport blood and biological samples from the Casa della Salute in Langhirano to laboratories in the Parma province, using the ABzero | Life Saving Partner system for ultra-rapid and controlled delivery of highly perishable medical goods.

The flights were fully autonomous while maintaining remote monitoring. They covered significant distances, demonstrating the system’s ability to overcome geographical obstacles and ensure speed and efficiency under real-world conditions. This success was made possible thanks to the essential contribution of #AI integrated into the #SmartCapsule and the #Spoke system.

Why is it important?
In the transport of biological samples, blood, or life-saving drugs, time is critical. With ABzero, we are breaking traditional logistical barriers, offering an innovative solution that drastically reduces delivery times while ensuring the highest standards of safety and traceability.

Why is this a significant milestone?
The fast and safe transport of blood and other biological materials is crucial for saving lives. Drones enable the overcoming of geographical obstacles and road traffic, ensuring timely deliveries even in hard-to-reach areas.

Looking ahead:
This flight represents a significant step toward integrating drones into healthcare logistics, aiming to expand the service nationally and beyond, improving the efficiency and speed of essential medical deliveries.

Watch the regional Rai – Radiotelevisione Italiana news video about the service here

The project awarded by the European Space Agency – ESA, aims to harness innovation in the design and development of highly reliable #UAS positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions.
Thanks to the consortium created together with Thales Alenia Space, DRONE VOLT and Politehnica University Timisoara (UPT), TOPASE will focus on #BVLOS operations and critical use cases such as:

• Surveillance of critical infrastructure (specific category),
• Delivery of specific goods between two identified points (specific category),
• Taxi drones (certified category).

TOPASE results are supported by an End to End Proof of concept aligned with a real commercial use case bringing viability of the business plan and maximizing the solution go to market.

https://navisp.esa.int/project/details/292/show