Development and application of drones in logistics

Based on the dramatic increase in distribution demand, soaring labor costs, and other factors, coupled with the progress of relevant hardware and software technology, drones have reached a basic level of practicality and together contribute to a "change" in logistics innovation - drone logistics. Drones will become an indispensable infrastructure for the modern logistics industry, helping the logistics industry leapfrog development.

Military-grade drones are those operated by radio-controlled equipment and self-contained program control devices, principally for replacing humans in aerial operations. Civilian-grade drones are those operated by radio-controlled equipment and self-contained program control devices, principally for replacing humans in aerial operations. Consumer-grade drones are those operated by radio-controlled equipment and self-contained program control devices, principally for recreational purposes such as photography or videography. Industrial-grade drones are those used widely in agriculture and forestry plant protection, power patrol, border patrol, forest fire prevention, logistics distribution and other fields.

Logistics advantages of UAVs

Convenient, time-saving, and space-saving

Compared to ground transportation, drones have the advantages of convenience and efficiency. They can save land resources and infrastructure, as well as time and money. In some congested areas of the city, as well as in some remote areas, ground transportation can not be smooth, resulting in the delivery of goods or parcels taking longer than normal or costing more. In some environments and conditions, only drone transportation methods can achieve "accessibility", which can not be replaced amr roboticsby other methods. And logistics drones can effectively reduce the burden of ground transportation and save resources and construction costs through the rational use of idle low-altitude resources.

China Communication's drones successfully deliver consumer packages

Low costs and flexible scheduling

Compared to other forms of air transportation, such as general air transport and helicopter transport, drone transport has the advantages of low cost and flexibility in scheduling. As the demand for air cargo rises year by year, the number of licensed pilots and supporting resources, as well as the labor costs of pilots and crew members, have become constraints on development. The cost of unmanned cargo is relatively low, and the unmanned feature enables airports to realize intensive development of all factors in construction and operation management.

Solving the aging population problem through human-machine collaboration

Drones can be connected to other operation methods, thereby saving labor, if they can be developed and used in logistics such as inventory, transportation, and distribution, combined with careful deployment and scientific management. By assisting manpower to play the "human-machine synergy" effect, they can produce the best benefits.

Capacity optimization and synergy

Based on scientific planning, the integrated use of Internet + drones, robots and other technologies and methods can achieve synergistic capacity and optimize capacity. In order to handle some fast delivery and continuous replenishment orders, Amazon, Walmart, and other companies have planned intelligent and efficient drone urban distribution centers (such as Amazon's drone tower) and "drone carriers" (aerial distribution bases) on the basis of building advanced information systems, intelligent storage systems, and optimizing business processes.

The use of drone technology can complement traditional delivery methods, such as iron, public, and air. By combining pipeline, water, and multimodal transportation, as well as drone end distribution and feeder transportation, modern logistics will be able to enhance its service capacity, as well as optimize its efficiency, cost, and capacity.