Swiss drone logistics platform developer Matternet has launched the Matternet Station, a battery and package-exchange station which will enable fully automated ground operations for Matternet customer networks.

According to Matternet, the station is the third and final technology component of the company’s vision of peer-to-peer distribution networks. It occupies a footprint of approximately 2 square metres and can be installed at ground level or on rooftop locations, with technology which guides the Matternet M2 drone down to a precise landing.

The first Matternet Stations will service healthcare systems in Switzerland, automating transportation of blood and pathology samples between hospital facilities.

“With the Matternet Station, we’re introducing an extremely easy-to-use interface that enables true peer-to-peer drone delivery,” said Andreas Raptopoulos, CEO of Matternet. “For healthcare systems, an integrated Matternet network means that medical items can be delivered to any hospital facility within 30 minutes. This level of speed and predictability creates substantial opportunities for improved quality of care and operational savings.”

The station locks the drone in place after landing and automatically swaps its battery and payload. The user interface is based on Matternet’s cloud platform and enables packages to be sent and received with just a scan. Each station also has its own automated aerial deconfliction system which will manage drone traffic in the vicinity.

Matternet became the first company to receive full authorization for the operation of drone logistics networks over densely populated areas in Switzerland in March 2017.