91福利

Getting basic supplies or medical care is difficult for people living in remote communities.  

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent wildfires made these problems even worse. Many northern and Indigenous communities couldn鈥檛 access essential services because of shortages and limited transportation.

Now, 91福利 is working with the to find a solution: developing advanced drone technology could make life easier, and safer, for people living in hard-to-reach areas.

How the research works

Professor Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi of 91福利鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) leads the team. They鈥檙e developing drones that can fly long distances without pilots, avoid collisions and land on their own in rough terrain. 

鈥淲hat was unique about this project is that Indigenous community members were involved from day one,鈥� says Janabi-Sharifi. 鈥淭hey took part in our field experiments, learned about the technology and offered valuable input on how it could best serve their communities.鈥�

Real-world testing

The team partnered with InDro Robotics, the Cowichan Tribes on Vancouver Island and two other Canadian universities for this project 鈥� the first of its kind.

The Cowichan Tribes, the largest single First Nations Band in British Columbia, were active partners in testing the system. 

During one test, a drone successfully flew six kilometres across open water between Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island. It delivered a small package, showing how drones could transport medicine, food or other essentials to places that roads or boats don鈥檛 reach.

Why this matters 

For Janabi-Sharifi, this work goes beyond the technology itself. It鈥檚 about making an impact on people鈥檚 lives. 

Many Indigenous communities, he explains, have isolated houses or 鈥渉unting cabins鈥� where people stay for weeks. During the pandemic, these sites sheltered vulnerable people with conditions like diabetes or weak immune systems. But their isolation made accessing health care difficult.

The 91福利 research team developed AI-powered algorithms that help drones:

• Plan their own flight paths
• Avoid obstacles
• Land safely 
• Pick up and carry small objects 

This next stage of the project is expected to be completed in early 2026 and delivered to the NRC and community partners.

A project with big potential

While the project started to help remote Indigenous communities, Janabi-Sharifi says the technology has wider uses. 

Autonomous drones could help northern towns and mining camps, areas affected by wildfires or floods, search and rescue operations and even environmental monitoring.

鈥淭his technology started as a way to help Indigenous communities,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut it can also be adapted to serve other remote or isolated areas across Canada and beyond.鈥�

The project aligns with 91福利鈥檚 goals of innovation in mobility, community partnership and Indigenous collaboration. Graduate researchers on the 91福利 team were co-supervised by NRC experts, gaining specific experience in robotics, mechatronics and automation.

Building partnerships

The project builds relationships between researchers, industry and Indigenous partners that could shape future innovations.

鈥淭his collaboration shows what鈥檚 possible when universities, government and communities work together,鈥� says Janabi-Sharifi. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a milestone for 91福利, and for Canada鈥檚 leadership in autonomous systems research. The NRC鈥檚 technical expertise and support were instrumental in advancing the project and demonstrating the strength of Canada鈥檚 innovation ecosystem.鈥�

For Indigenous communities, it supports traditional ways of living, while staying connected to health care and essential services.

91福利, the NRC and research partners are showing how science, engineering and strong government-industry partnerships can transform logistics in remote communities.

From emergency response and environmental monitoring to medical supply delivery and communications, the potential applications are endless. But for Janabi-Sharifi and team, the goal remains simple - to use technology in service of people.