California start - up company has developed a system enabling its drones to automatically swap batteries and pick up or deliver payloads using a specially built base station . The company is working to expand its business , which allows companies to transport blood and tissue samples to and from medical facilities ; the ability to self - recharge could help to cut delivery times . Matternet is awaiting regulatory approval in the US but is planning to deploy its devices in Switzerland and is looking to expand to the UK and Germany .
California start-up Matternet has developed a system enabling its drones to automatically swap batteries and pick up or deliver payloads using a specially built base station. The company is working to commercialise its business, which uses drones to transport blood and pathology samples to and from medical facilities; the ability to self-recharge could help to cut delivery times. Matternet is awaiting regulatory approval in the US but is set to deploy its devices in Switzerland and is looking to expand to the UK and Germany.