Abstract:
Providing rapid testing and proper treatment has become highly challenging due to the rapid and highly unpredictable spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In most developing countries, rural areas lack adequate medical facilities and medical staff for effective diagnosis and treatment. Recently, there have been several technological advancements across various engineering disciplines such as the Internet of Things, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, deep neural networks (DNNs), and intelligent robots. This work proposes a prototype that integrates these technologies to develop a payload deployable in a drone to help in providing rapid testing and healthcare. The proposed UAV prototype combines secure patient authentication, an automated disinfection system, and medical sensors as part of the UAV payload. It uses a DNN model for real-time COVID-19 detection. It uses intelligent flight path planning, operational management, battery recharge planning, disinfectant refilling, and strategic location planning to quickly disseminate testing kits and essential medical services to remote locations without direct human involvement.