DRONE DELIVERY OPTIMIZATION: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF NEXT-GENERATION LOGISTICS

AUTHOR – SRIRAM S, PGDM STUDENT AT GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS STUDIES (GIBS), BANGALORE

BEST CITATION – SRIRAM S, DRONE DELIVERY OPTIMIZATION: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF NEXT-GENERATION LOGISTICS, ILE MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, 4 (1) OF 2025, PG. 345-349, APIS – 3920-0007 | ISSN – 2583-7230

Abstract

This research paper tackles the critical optimisation challenges affecting drone delivery systems, which seeks to make such systems more viable and efficient.  We touch on three issues: route planning, energy efficiency, and solutions for last-mile delivery.  Current drone delivery operations face certain limitations in trying to optimize the delivery routes toward minimizing travel times and energy expenditure, especially with complex urban terrains. This study overcomes these drawbacks by investigating and comparing different route planning algorithms, such as adapted for the specific constraints of drone navigation, such as airspace restrictions, weather conditions, and payload capacity.  Additionally, we analyze strategies for achieving maximum energy efficiency, including parameters such as battery capacity, flight speed, and payload weight. This involves developing a mathematical model that incorporates these parameters to predict energy consumption and optimize flight profiles.  The last-mile delivery aspect is the most critical for successful drone integration. We look at various methods for last-mile delivery, along with studying the feasibility and efficiency of said methods in various scenarios. To validate our proposed approaches, we incorporate real-world data obtained through collaborations with logistics companies. We then use such data to construct an entirely new framework for optimal drone deployment, taking into consideration issues like how many drones may be needed, where they should be situated within a delivery network, and dynamic positioning based on real-time demand. This study’s findings provide significant insights to logistics providers, policymakers, and researchers toward efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective drone delivery systems. We envision that this work will help to contribute to the development of drone technology and its eventual integration into future logistics infrastructure.