By Fox23.com News Staff
ATOKA, Okla. — The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) held an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) demonstration alongside officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Tuesday morning to show a drone delivering medical supplies to the Atoka Health Clinic.
The demonstration showed how drones can help better access to medical care in rural areas.
“This project is a prime example of innovation meeting a critical need,” said James Grimsley, Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives. “By reducing dependency on rural highways, we can make healthcare delivery safer and faster.”
Also during Tuesday’s demonstration, CNO announced it received a Strengthening mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant from USDOT.
The funds from the near $2 million grant will be used to further develop the technology for the drones.
“The Choctaw Nation’s success with advanced drone integration shows what the SMART program is designed to achieve — technology-driven solutions that improve safety, reliability, and quality of life,” said Stan Caldwell, USDOT SMART Grant Program Director.
The SMART Program supports advanced technology projects that are aimed at improving safety, reliability, and efficiency of transportation. The program is also the largest single federal smart technology investment.
“Our people deserve timely, high-quality healthcare no matter where they live,” said Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton. “This SMART Grant allows us to harness cutting-edge technology — drones, robotics, and intelligent logistics — to better serve our tribal members across rural and hard-to-reach areas.”
For more information on the SMART Grants program, click here.
To learn more about the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Click here.
