Michigan tests drones to speed up hospital lab deliveries

Munson Healthcare, northern Michigan’s largest health system, is testing drones to speed up lab deliveries across its 11,000-square-mile service area. The state-funded pilot aims to cut lab turnaround times and lower costs from fuel and vehicle upkeep. It’s an early sign that drones could soon play a bigger role in healthcare logistics.

Drones replace long drives

Munson’s early trials used drones from startup Blueflite to move lab samples between hospitals that once relied on long drives. The area’s scenic but slow roads often delayed deliveries and lab work. Now drones make smaller, faster trips. That lets technicians process samples all day instead of waiting for bulk shipments.

Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) supports the project through a $10 million Advanced Aerial Mobility Activation grant. Traverse Connect, a regional economic group, helped secure part of the funding for Munson’s pilot. The next step is to expand flights beyond the operator’s visual line of sight — a key rule change that would allow broader drone use across the state.

Michigan bets on aerial mobility

The project fits Michigan’s plan to lead in next-generation aerial transport. State mobility officer Justine Johnson said drones could help many industries, from healthcare to farming and defense. For rural systems like Munson, drones could close access gaps that slow medical service in remote areas.

We see this as a test case for how drone networks could reshape regional economies. If rural hospitals can move lab samples or prescriptions in minutes instead of hours, patients benefit — and delivery costs drop. The same model could work in other time-critical sectors.

Investors eye early drone logistics gains

For investors, this signals rising momentum in commercial drone use. Big names like Amazon, UPS, and Alphabet’s Wing unit are already testing similar networks. While Michigan’s pilot is small, its progress helps drone infrastructure providers, logistics software firms, and component makers.

We view this trend as positive for companies building autonomous delivery systems and slightly negative for traditional couriers. If drone logistics scale in healthcare, demand for small transport fleets may fall. Still, established players like UPS Flight Forward could adapt and lead in drone-based delivery.