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Long-distance transoceanic transport of blood using drones has never been reported. This study aimed to prove that blood transportation via drones can meet the rapid demand for blood transfusions anywhere in Japan, including remote islands. We demonstrated the transport of red blood cells (RBCs) packs using a drone over the sea from Sasebo to Arikawa port. Drone operations were conducted visually only at take-off and landing. Cruise flights were conducted via satellite-based remote control from Tokyo. The RBC solutions were transported at 2–6 °C to avoid hemolysis. Hemolysis was assessed visually and by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels before departure and upon arrival at Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital to evaluate whether RBCs were transfusable. LDH levels of the RBC solutions before and after transport were 57.5 ± 3.1 vs. 64.0 ± 2.9. RBC solutions were transported via air and land from Tokyo to Sasebo and showed no remarkable signs of hemolysis. Remote RBC solution transport by uncrewed helicopters with temperature control is feasible and allows RBC transportation in emergencies involving disrupted land transportation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

In nuclear fusion devices, infrared (IR) imaging diagnostics have been widely used for the temperature measurement of in-vessel surfaces. For the diagnostics, variations of the optical emittance and reflectance of wall materials will be an essential issue to measure the temperature correctly. In this study, variations in the optical properties in near IR range of tungsten exposed to helium plasmas were experimentally investigated in detail by observing the radiation spectrum from a heated sample. By the exposure to the helium plasma, nanostructures were grown from the surface, while the nanostructures were annealed out when the surface temperature was raised without helium ion irradiation. The optical emittance was measured from the radiation spectrum in the wavelength range 1400-4000 nm; it was revealed that the emittance significantly altered for a short time period in the formation and annealing processes of nanostructures. The influence of the variation in the optical properties on the IR diagnostics is discussed.