By Tim Ryan
Tangier Island is no stranger to challenges. Located in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, its remote geography has always created barriers to essential services, from grocery deliveries to health care access. But an inspiring chapter in Hampton Roads’ ongoing story of innovation and determination is emerging from this small island—one written not by boats or planes, but by drones.
DroneUp, a leader in autonomous drone delivery, recently demonstrated the powerful impact of its Elevating Health Care Access project, a venture designed to bridge health care gaps for rural communities. On October 23rd, the project’s Stage I pilot phase came to an exciting close with a successful demonstration: in just 14 minutes, DroneUp’s Kite B drone delivered prescription medications across a 17-mile stretch from Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital to Tangier Island, cutting typical transportation delays significantly. The return flight simulated the transportation of lab work back to the mainland for testing.
“The culmination of Stage I was a significant step, ultimately showing that the 17-mile Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight is a viable option for delivering medical supplies. We know that drone delivery to patients in rural areas will not only improve access to medications, but also improve patient outcomes and overall health,” said Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp.
This demonstration reflects Hampton Roads’ commitment to building an innovative and supportive ecosystem that leverages cutting-edge technology to solve everyday problems. Tangier Island—often seen as a place where time moves slowly—is now the centerpiece of a groundbreaking initiative that highlights how innovation can overcome even the most challenging logistical hurdles.
With Stage I now complete, the project looks forward to scaling up. The Stage II SMART Grant proposal, which was submitted this past summer, aims to expand operations and ensure that the successes seen on Tangier Island can be replicated across other underserved areas in Virginia. The ultimate goal is an operational prototype that can transform into a self-sustaining public health transportation service—a promising future for those often left behind in the traditional healthcare system.
Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) were instrumental in bringing the project to fruition. VIPC’s Chris Sadler emphasized that the technology’s transformative power lies in its ability to make health care access equitable, ensuring that even those on isolated islands have a lifeline to vital supplies.
DroneUp’s partnership with local health care and innovation agencies is a reminder of the role that community collaboration plays in meaningful change. By elevating access to care, they are effectively re-writing the story for underserved residents—creating a future in which health care delivery is dictated not by location but by need.
As we await Stage II, the skies over Tangier Island serve as a testament to what is possible when innovation takes flight. This project is just one part of a bigger vision for Hampton Roads—a region that proves again and again that even the most remote communities can benefit from the promise of progress.
