At Rice University, a group of innovative students is developing a drone system to transport medical supplies, which could significantly change how healthcare operates. This startup, named Haast Autonomous, focuses on delivering crucial materials efficiently amid the growing centralization of healthcare facilities.

How Haast Autonomous Works

Haast Autonomous was founded by Ege Halac, Jason Chen, and Santiago Brent, who brought their idea to life with the help of the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They have successfully raised $1.85 million in preseed funding to dedicate the first year after college to their startup.

The team created a prototype at Rice’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, where they collaborated with other engineering students. Their goal is to address the increasing need for efficient transport solutions in healthcare. As hospitals consolidate and essential services become centralized, transporting medical supplies often depends on ground couriers or expensive air transport.

Halac shared that there is an urgent need for a transport system that is fast, safe, and easy to access, especially for life-critical cargo. This includes transporting items such as patient samples and antivenom, which require careful handling.

The Technology Behind Haast

Haast’s drones are innovative in design. They can take off and land vertically, making them compatible with current hospital infrastructure. For longer distances, these aircraft shift to horizontal flight. The current model has a mission profile of 50 to 62 miles and can carry payloads of at least 5 pounds, with plans to expand this capability.

Built-in features of the drone ensure temperature, pressure, vibration, and tilt control to keep sensitive medical materials safe during transport. This meticulous attention to technology aims to enhance patient outcomes by facilitating quicker and safer delivery of necessary medical supplies between facilities.

To manage the operations, Haast is developing a coordinating software. It will allow hospitals to request flights, track their shipments in real-time, and document every step of the delivery process. This integrated approach is crucial for fitting into the existing workflows of hospitals.

The Journey Ahead

Haast is not just a campus project but is gaining momentum beyond Rice University. The founders have engaged with hundreds of potential customers and secured letters of intent for their services. They have also partnered with Airspace Link to help coordinate autonomous flight operations and have been recognized in national competitions, including the Oregon UAS Accelerator, where they were named one of the top 10 finalists.

Their initial focus included transporting transplant organs, but they have recognized the broader potential of their platform. Brent stated that the technology could be used across various industries for mission-critical transport needs. They aim to build the fastest and most secure logistics chain for sensitive cargo.

Chen emphasized the importance of the entire system — noting that the drone is just one piece of solving a larger logistical challenge. The founders plan to utilize their funding for pilot trials in early 2027, aiming for a market launch later that year.

What this means for you

The development of Haast Autonomous may lead to improved healthcare logistics in the future, making medical supplies more accessible when they are needed most. As the system matures, it could serve as a model for other industries also facing transport challenges.

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Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1131370