A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery
<i>Background</i>: UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and SUGVs (Sidewalk Unmanned Ground Vehicles) are two prominent options to revolutionize last mile home delivery. However, there is no literature yet addressing a comprehensive assessment of them. To bridge this research gap, this paper...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Logistics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/2/21 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839642895516172288 |
|---|---|
| author | Fang Li Oliver Kunze |
| author_facet | Fang Li Oliver Kunze |
| author_sort | Fang Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background</i>: UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and SUGVs (Sidewalk Unmanned Ground Vehicles) are two prominent options to revolutionize last mile home delivery. However, there is no literature yet addressing a comprehensive assessment of them. To bridge this research gap, this paper aimed to compare UAVs to SUGVs in the context of urban parcel delivery from a practical, conceptual, technological, commercial, and environmental perspective. <i>Methodology</i>: Based on structured literature and web research, this paper provided a comparative status quo review of these two delivery concepts. We introduced a parameter-based cost calculus model to estimate the costs per shipment for each technology. To detect the key cost drivers, we applied a one-way sensitivity analysis, as well as a “full factorial design of experiment” approach. <i>Results</i>: These key cost drivers for both operations are the “number of vehicles per operator” and the “average beeline service radius”. From today’s commercial point of view, our model indicated better profitability of SUGVs. However, technical and regulatory developments may render different results in the future. As SUGVs emit significantly less noise than UAVs, we assume that SUGVs have an additional advantage for usage in autonomous urban last mile delivery from a resident’s perspective. <i>Conclusions</i>: Both key cost drivers will significantly influence the commercial viability of unmanned home delivery services. Safety and security aspects will determine regulatory rules on “number of vehicles per operator”. To increase the “average beeline service radius”, UAVs could profit from mothership delivery concepts while SUGV delivery may co-use existing public transport infrastructure. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-334f3d1be1be4c4ba4c229b9cce5b07b |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2305-6290 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Logistics |
| spelling | doaj-art-334f3d1be1be4c4ba4c229b9cce5b07b2025-07-02T05:48:01ZengMDPI AGLogistics2305-62902023-04-01722110.3390/logistics7020021A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home DeliveryFang Li0Oliver Kunze1Institute for Logistics, Risk- and Resource Management (ILR), Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Wileystraße 1, 89231 Neu-Ulm, GermanyInstitute for Logistics, Risk- and Resource Management (ILR), Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Wileystraße 1, 89231 Neu-Ulm, Germany<i>Background</i>: UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and SUGVs (Sidewalk Unmanned Ground Vehicles) are two prominent options to revolutionize last mile home delivery. However, there is no literature yet addressing a comprehensive assessment of them. To bridge this research gap, this paper aimed to compare UAVs to SUGVs in the context of urban parcel delivery from a practical, conceptual, technological, commercial, and environmental perspective. <i>Methodology</i>: Based on structured literature and web research, this paper provided a comparative status quo review of these two delivery concepts. We introduced a parameter-based cost calculus model to estimate the costs per shipment for each technology. To detect the key cost drivers, we applied a one-way sensitivity analysis, as well as a “full factorial design of experiment” approach. <i>Results</i>: These key cost drivers for both operations are the “number of vehicles per operator” and the “average beeline service radius”. From today’s commercial point of view, our model indicated better profitability of SUGVs. However, technical and regulatory developments may render different results in the future. As SUGVs emit significantly less noise than UAVs, we assume that SUGVs have an additional advantage for usage in autonomous urban last mile delivery from a resident’s perspective. <i>Conclusions</i>: Both key cost drivers will significantly influence the commercial viability of unmanned home delivery services. Safety and security aspects will determine regulatory rules on “number of vehicles per operator”. To increase the “average beeline service radius”, UAVs could profit from mothership delivery concepts while SUGV delivery may co-use existing public transport infrastructure.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/2/21automated vehiclescost analysisdelivery botsdroneslast mile deliverynoise |
| spellingShingle | Fang Li Oliver Kunze A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery Logistics automated vehicles cost analysis delivery bots drones last mile delivery noise |
| title | A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery |
| title_full | A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery |
| title_fullStr | A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery |
| title_short | A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery |
| title_sort | comparative review of air drones uavs and delivery bots sugvs for automated last mile home delivery |
| topic | automated vehicles cost analysis delivery bots drones last mile delivery noise |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/2/21 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fangli acomparativereviewofairdronesuavsanddeliverybotssugvsforautomatedlastmilehomedelivery AT oliverkunze acomparativereviewofairdronesuavsanddeliverybotssugvsforautomatedlastmilehomedelivery AT fangli comparativereviewofairdronesuavsanddeliverybotssugvsforautomatedlastmilehomedelivery AT oliverkunze comparativereviewofairdronesuavsanddeliverybotssugvsforautomatedlastmilehomedelivery |