Drone technology in logistics

Technology like drones are a mixture of an aeroplane and unmanned helicopter which were initially used for military activities, and the defence sector -with surveillance functions- and later extended to civilian uses like entertainment, photography, fire extinction etc. and now, are being used by different industries, including the logistics sector. These drones are now capable of making an inventory in a?logistics warehouse, transporting goods?by air, or even carrying out?security tasks.?

In the e-commerce sector, an increase in the demand for faster and more efficient delivery at low costs is being witnessed especially, with customers willing to pay extra to get packages delivered on the same day. This demand will increase the usage and acceptance of drones in the logistics and transportation market. The growing popularity of e-commerce is making a strong case for the use of drone technology in the transportation and distribution of goods. In the United States, some companies have already begun testing for use in the distribution of products to the end customer using drone technology. For instance, Lockeford, California will be “among the first” locations in the U.S. to get access to the company’s burgeoning drone delivery, Prime Air Drones. [1]

?How Are Drones Used in Logistics?

Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones can have many uses, but specifically, in logistics operations, and distribution, one can take advantage of them in the following way:

• ?They can be leveraged for transportation or delivery of orders to customers, especially in urban areas with heavy traffic congestion.?
• Delivery of vaccines and medications to remote and rural areas?
• ?Remotely operated drones can be used for risk assessment and inspecting infrastructural damage after a disaster.
• ?Surveillance of logistically large areas like warehouses and factories for security purposes.
• Scanning of goods and allowing the operations team to view inventory stored on the premises as well as searching for misplaced goods in difficult-to-reach spaces.
• To assess the maintenance of infrastructure integrity of yards, terminals, and warehouse roofs.
• ?To capture videos and images during inventory audits.

?The drone market is expected to make waves in the operations of supply chains as more and more enterprises are prioritizing efficiency in each step of the supply chain process. Soon, drone-based deliveries will be a staple as drone technology for transportation and logistics is expected to reach the $17 billion mark within ten years. [2]

?Some advantages of using this technology:

• Distribution costs can be saved in the long run because it does not require so much fuel. A single piece of equipment can cover very long distances.
• The delivery of goods and products to the final consumer is faster because drones have a higher travel speed, and air traffic is less congested.
• Transportation routes can be expanded, as drones have access to areas where conventional transports do not.
• It allows you to have an eco-friendly logistics and supply chain process as CO2 emissions are reduced because it does not use fossil fuels.
• More accurate inventory control in warehouses. It even offers the possibility of integrating the information from the drone into an integral system of warehouse management, and analytics by artificial intelligence.
• Drones do not work in shifts. They can be operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In summary, the application of drones in logistics means faster deliveries and a reduction in distribution costs to having high benefits for the environment thanks to reductions in urban traffic and therefore, in CO2 emissions.

?Drawbacks of UAVs in logistics

The majority of experts assure that the use of drones in the logistics sector is very?advantageous, although, to date, there are many barriers for it to becoming popular. For instance, drones can do many positive things when they are used in a senseful manner, but drones can be quite dangerous if they end up in the wrong hands.

Drones are a?high-cost technology?as it requires a lot of research and development. The?carrying capacity is limited?and cannot include large volumes and lastly, the?air traffic routes?are not yet defined or adapted for drones. Also, there are limitations in hardware like battery life, payload capacity and flight stability in rainy and windy conditions. Plus, the wide adoption of drone delivery for last-mile deliveries is not feasible at the moment, given the regulatory and legislative concerns regarding data privacy and safety.

?Conclusion

There have been significant advancements in drone hardware in the last few years, paving the way for intelligent automation software that makes drones cost-effective for logistics and supply chain uses. Companies like Google, DHL, Amazon, and Walmart are actively experimenting with autonomous systems and robotics. Global brands are now investing in research and development of drones for logistics. In the end, it's obvious that drones will transform the supply chain process dramatically in the future, given the strong interest and investments in the technology. Drone-based deliveries can only be scaled if logistics firms can work effectively with the government, regulators, and customers to overcome barriers.

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References

[1]-https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-prime-air-prepares-for-drone-deliveries

[2]-https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/drone-logistic-transportation-market132496700.html#:~:text=%5B276%20Pages%20Report%5D%20The%20drone,and%2For%20passengers%20using%20drones.