ANA Holdings is the go-to company for drone research

ANA HOLDINGS (ANA HD) has announced it is working to enhance innovation in unmanned aerial vehicle technology as well as find new applications for drones, such as tests to improve medical care in Zambia and also to create an inter-island transportation network in Goto City, Japan.

“Technology is advancing at a rapid pace and we are always looking for opportunities to harness the latest breakthroughs in any way that we can as we work to improve quality of life around the globe,” said Yoshiaki Tsuda, vice president of ANA digital design lab. “ANA HD has built a reputation for leadership in the rapidly developing drone field and we are constantly searching for opportunities to find practical applications for this exciting technology. ANA HD has always believed in pushing technological boundaries through innovation and it is encouraging to see laboratory breakthroughs result in real-world benefits.”

ANA HD is building drone infrastructure in Goto City, Japan as part of its partnership with the local government as well as Autonomous Control Systems Laboratories, Inc. (ACSL), NTT DOCOMO, Inc. and PRODUCTION NAP. (NAP), to establish a logistics network that uses drones to improve delivery between the remote islands of Goto City. The trial began today and will continue through 4 Oct, 2019.

Located in Nagasaki prefecture, Goto City consists of 63 islands, of which only 11 are inhabited. Because of the distance between islands and the region’s low population density, drones present the most viable means of connecting the islands which each other and the rest of Japan. The program offers substantial benefits for local residents, regional retailers and medical service providers.

ANA HD’s participation in the Goto City Unmanned Logistics Council will simplify delivery to and from the islands as well as offer training for those in charge of drone logistics so that residents are able to make the most out of new drone infrastructure. The drone campaign is part of Japan’s Drone i-Land Project, which half of its budget is funded by the Cabinet Office’s Regional Revitalization Promotion Grants.

Furthermore, ANA HD is working in collaboration with Aerosense Inc. and the National Centre for Global Health and Medicine, to providing help for drone development in Zambia, particularly in the medical field. As part of its agreement with other innovators, ANA HD will offer its aviation expertise and technology to partners in Zambia as part of a comprehensive effort to build a sustainable drone transportation network for blood samples. Rapid blood testing in rural areas is viewed as key in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other devastating diseases. As part of the agreement with the Zambian government, ANA HD has committed to using its drones in the country starting in January 2020 through June 2021.