Scheduling of a parcel delivery system consisting of an aerial drone interacting with public transportation vehicles

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This paper proposes a novel parcel delivery system which consists of a drone and public transportation vehicles such as trains, trams, etc. This system involves two delivery schemes: drone-direct scheme referring to delivering to a customer by a drone directly and drone–vehicle collaborating scheme referring to delivering a customer based on the collaboration of a drone and public transportation vehicles. The fundamental characteristics including the delivery time, energy consumption and battery recharging are modelled, based on which a time-dependent scheduling problem for a single drone is formulated. It is shown to be NP-complete and a dynamic programming-based exact algorithm is presented. Since its computational complexity is exponential with respect to the number of customers, a sub-optimal algorithm is further developed. This algorithm accounts the time for delivery and recharging, and it first schedules the customer which leads to the earliest return. Its computational complexity is also discussed. Moreover, extensive computer simulations are conducted to demonstrate the scheduling performance of the proposed algorithms and the impacts of several key system parameters are investigated

The Application of Drones in City Logistics Concepts

With the rise of city logistics (CL) problems in the last three decades, various methods, approaches, solutions, and initiatives were analyzed and proposed for making logistics in urban areas more sustainable. The most analyzed and promising solutions are those that take into account cooperation among logistics providers and consolidation of the flow of goods. Furthermore, technological innovations enable the implementation of modern vehicles/equipment in order to make CL solutions sustainable. For several years, drone-based delivery has attracted lots of attention in scientific research, but there is a serious gap in the literature regarding the application of drones in CL concepts. The goal of this paper is to analyze four CL concepts that differ in consolidation type, transformation degree of flow of goods (direct and indirect, multi-echelon flows), and the role of drones. Two of the analyzed concepts are novel, which is the main contribution of the paper. The performances of the analyzed concepts are compared to the performances of the traditional delivery model – using only trucks without prior flow consolidation. The results indicate that CL concepts which combine different consolidation models and drones in the last phase of the delivery could stand out as a sustainable CL solution

Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles for Urban Logistics: Optimization of Last Mile Delivery Operations

In an era dominated by ongoing urbanization and rising e-commerce, the efficient delivery of goods within cities becomes a major challenge. As a new element of urban logistics, we discuss the potential of autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (AUGV) regarding the last mile delivery of shipments to customers. We propose an optimization model to minimize the delivery costs of urban shipments using AUGV. Simultaneously, best locations from a set of existing stations are selected for AUGV positioning and optimal route determination. With our developed Location Routing Problem, we provide decision support for parcel service providers, city authorities, and other relevant decision makers. Regarding the Green Information Systems domain, we tackle the lack of solution-oriented research addressing a more sustainable and locally emission free supply of goods within urban areas

Systemic Performance Analysis on Zoning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Service Delivery

A zoning approach that divides an area of interest into multiple sub-areas can be a systemic and strategic solution to safely deploy a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for package delivery services. Following the zoning approach, a UAV can be assigned to one of the sub-areas, taking sole ownership and responsibility of the sub-area. As a result, the need for collision avoidance between units and the complexity of relevant operational activities can be minimized, ensuring both safe and reliable execution of the tasks. Given that the zoning approach involves the demand-server allocation decision, the service quality to customers can also be improved by performing the zoning properly. To illuminate the benefits of the zoning approach to UAV operations from a systemic perspective, this study applies clustering techniques to derive zoning solutions under different scenarios and examines the performance of the solutions using a simulation model. The simulation results demonstrate that the zoning approach can improve the safety of UAV operations, as well as the quality of service to demands

Autonomous ground vehicles in urban last-mile delivery : an exploration of the implementation feasibility and consumer’s acceptance

E-Commerce has rapidly changed the urban last-mile delivery in recent years, and Courier-, Express- and Parcel (CEP) companies are challenged by the increasing demand. Service robotics with autonomous vehicles are subject to be the catalyst for transforming the industry. Considering the infancy and lack of research on the subject, the purpose of this study is to explore the concept of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) in urban last-mile delivery from two perspectives. First, data about the industry and insights from the technology provider summarize the status quo of recent developments and implementation barriers with the help of expert interviews. The findings show obstacles in the technological maturity and regulatory framework. Moreover, although only road-AGVs (rAGVs) will significantly change the industry, sidewalk-AGVs (sAGVs) act as a proof of concept as the implementation is more feasible. In addition, they create new premium services for the consumers. Second, an attempt to determine the consumer’s acceptance of sAGVs, using the combination of the technology acceptance model and the technology readiness index, is made with an online survey. The proposed research model is analysed by means of simple regression analysis, and all hypotheses are supported. The majority of the respondents have a positive attitude towards the concept of sAGVs for delivery and consider using it when the safety of their delivery goods is guaranteed. This dissertation enriches the literature on human-robot acceptance as well as the management of CEP-companies to increase the engagement in the implementation of sidewalk-AGVs to increase service innovation for consumers.O comércio electrónico mudou rapidamente a entrega urbana de bens ao consumidor, e as empresas de Correio Expresso Urgente são desafiadas pela procura crescente. Os serviços robóticos com veículos autónomos serão provavelmente o catalisador da transformação desta indústria. Considerando a falta e o estágio inicial de investigação, este estudo explora o conceito de veículos autónomos terrestres (AGVs) na entrega urbana de bens ao consumidor considerando duas perspetivas. Uma primeira será a de recolher dados sobre a indústria e insights de fornecedores da tecnologia, sumarizando os mais recentes desenvolvimentos e as barreiras à implementação, com a ajuda de entrevistas a especialistas. Os resultados revelam obstáculos na maturidade tecnológica e enquadramento regulamentar. Adicionalmente, embora apenas os AGVs rodoviários (rAGVs) virão a alterar significativamente a indústria, os AGVs de passeio (sAGVs) atuam como prova de conceito, dada a sua implementação viável. Em segundo lugar, a aceitação de sAGVs por parte do consumidor é determinada através da combinação de modelos de aceitação tecnológica e do índex de prontidão de tecnologia, via questionário online. O modelo de investigação proposto é testado por meio de análise de regressão simples, e todas as hipóteses são suportadas. A maioria dos participantes tem uma atitude positiva em relação aos sAGVs para entrega, e considera usá-los se a segurança dos seus bens for garantida. Esta dissertação enriquece a literatura sobre aceitação humana-robot, bem como a gestão de empresas de Correio Expresso Urgente, aumentando o envolvimento na implementação de sAGVs e fomentando a inovação em serviços para o consumidor

Adaptive fuzzy proportional-integral-derivative control for micro aerial vehicle

With multiple industries employing Micro Aerial Vehicles (MA V) to accomplish various tasks comprising agricultural spraying, package delivery and disaster monitoring, the MA V system has attracted researchers towards resolving its stability issue as emerged from external disturbances. Disruptions caused by both wind and payload change disturbances have prevailed as natural mishaps which degrade performance of the quadrotor MA V system at the horizontal and vertical positions in the aspects of overshoot (OS), rise time (Tr), settling time (Ts)and steady-state error (ess)· Such adversities then cause increased error between the system's desired and actual positions, with a longer rise time and settling time towards reaching its steady-state condition. Adopting the rotary wing quad-rotor MAV system with 'X' configuration as the groundwork, the current study has especially set to explore a new approach for the system's robust positional control in the concurrent presence of wind and payload change disturbances. Earlier literatures have simultaneously suggested the adoptions of linear, nonlinear and hybrid approaches towards handing stability challenge of the quad-rotor MA V. Notably, most hybrid approaches are unable to account for current changes in the system's environment, whilst incapable of concomitantly handle multiple disturbances. An instance being the Fuzzy-PID (FPID) method which merely adjusts the Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) gains ensuing discovered positional error from emergence of system's overshoot. Acknowledging such incompetency, this research further proposed Adaptive Fuzzy-PlD (AFPID) controller as the contemporary hybrid approach that includes adaptability function for overcoming nonlinearity of the quad-rotor MA V system, while maintaining the system's robust performance facing current environmental changes from simultaneous wind and payload change disturbances. With the proposed adaptive fuzzy control being adopted to adjust the PID gains in accordance to surrounding changes, undertaken improvement is hereby targeted to eliminate the effect of wind and payload change disturbances amidst stabilizing the employed system. In return, encountered error on both the quad-rotor MA V's horizontal and vertical positions is expected to decline despite concurrent bombardment of multiple external disturbances, following a decrease to the system's overshoot (OS), rise time (Tr), settling time (Ts)and steady-state error (ess). In simulation, performance of the proposed AFPID controller on the horizontal, y position as studied under circumstances of different incoming wind velocities and water flow rates with respect to OS, Tr, Ts and e55 is placed in comparison to the performance of the PID and FPID methods. Improvement is observed in the system's ess for the AFPID controller on the horizontal, y position amid disruption of combined disturbances, with respective reductions of0.93 x 10-3 % and 1.35 X 10-3 % over the performances of PID and FPID controllers. Obtained results then confirm corresponding decline of 27.5% and 21.70% in OS for the AFPID controller over the PID and FPID controllers. A decline of 13 7.50 s and 13.40 s in Ts is further recorded for the AFPID controller as compared to the respective PID and FPID controllers. Accumulated findings, thus, validate AFPID as an effective controller for minimized positional error, smaller overshoot (OS) and steady-state error (esJ, as well as shorter settling time (Ts) and rise time (Tr) as compared to the earlier PID and FPID controllers when faced with uncertain situations of wind and payload change disturbances

The operation of eVTOLs in the urban air mobility sector : use case & operator assessment

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology enables a sustainable form of aviation for currently unserved connections. eVTOLs can reduce the carbon emissions of the aviation industry by replacing conventional helicopters and smaller aircrafts. In addition, traffic congestion in large cities can be decreased and travel times shortened. This thesis examines which use case is offered to the passengers. In addition, the prospective urban air mobility (UAM) market player that is expected to become a potential operator in the short term is summarized, alongside the value proposition (VP), key resources (KR), key activities (KA), and key partnerships (KP) of an eVTOL operator. The findings have been obtained through a qualitative research approach questioning 16 UAM experts, commercial as well as private aviation companies. The results reveal that eVTOL manufacturers are going to be the first market players to operate eVTOLs in the short to medium term. Commercial airlines are expected to step into the market in the long term. Interviews have additionally shown that airport shuttles will be the first served use case. The primary value proposition is saving time for the passengers. The primary key resource is human staff. The primary key activity is eVTOL maintenance. The primary key partnership is with the infrastructure provider and/or operator. Furthermore, this research adds value to the existing UAM literature on eVTOL operators, first commercially offered use cases as well as elements of an operator’s business model.A tecnologia de decolagem e aterrissagem vertical elétrica (eVTOL) permite uma forma sustentável de aviação para conexões atualmente não atendidas. Os eVTOLs podem reduzir as emissões de carbono da indústria da aviação substituindo helicópteros convencionais e aeronaves menores. Além disso, o congestionamento do tráfego nas grandes cidades pode ser reduzido e os tempos de viagem reduzidos. Esta tese examina qual caso de uso é oferecido aos passageiros. Além disso, o potencial participante do mercado de mobilidade aérea urbana (UAM) que deve se tornar um operador potencial no curto prazo é resumido, juntamente com a proposta de valor (VP), recursos-chave (KR), atividades-chave (KA) e parcerias (KP) de um operador eVTOL. Os resultados foram obtidos por meio de uma abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa questionando 16 especialistas, empresas de aviação comercial e privada. Os resultados revelam que os fabricantes de eVTOL serão os primeiros players do mercado a operar eVTOLs no curto e médio prazo. Espera-se que as companhias aéreas comerciais entrem no mercado a longo prazo. As entrevistas também mostraram que os ônibus do aeroporto serão o primeiro caso de uso servido. A principal proposta de valor é economizar tempo para os passageiros. O recurso-chave primário é a equipe humana. A atividade de chave primária é a manutenção do eVTOL. A parceria de chave primária é com o provedor e/ou operador de infraestrutura. Além disso, esta pesquisa agrega valor à literatura UAM existente sobre operadoras eVTOL, primeiros casos de uso oferecidos comercialmente, bem como elementos do modelo de negócios de uma operadora

Deployment and navigation of aerial drones for sensing and interacting applications

Existing research recognises the critical role played by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) (also referred to as drones) to numerous civilian applications. Typical drone applications include surveillance, wireless communication, agriculture, among many others. One of the biggest challenges is to determine the deployment and navigation of the drones to benefit the most for different applications. Many research questions have been raised about this topic. For example, drone-enabled wildlife monitoring has received much attention in recent years. Unfortunately, this approach results in significant disturbance to different species of wild animals. Moreover, with the capability of rapidly moving communication supply towards demand when required, the drone equipped with a base station, i.e., drone-cell, is becoming a promising solution for providing cellular networks to victims and rescue teams in disaster-affected areas. However, few studies have investigated the optimal deployments of multiple drone-cells with limited backhaul communication distances. In addition, the use of autonomous drones as flying interactors for many real-life applications has not been sufficiently discussed. With superior maneuverability, drone-enabled autonomous aerial interacting can potentially be used on shark attack prevention and animal herding. Nevertheless, previous studies of autonomous drones have not dealt with such applications in much detail. This thesis explores the solutions to all the mentioned research questions, with a particular focus on the deployment and navigation of the drones. First, we provide one of the first investigations into reducing the negative impacts of wildlife monitoring drones by navigation control. Second, we study the optimal placement of a group of drone-cells with limited backhaul communication ranges, aims to maximise the number of served users. Third, we propose a novel method named ‘drone shark shield’, which uses communicating autonomous drones to intervene and prevent shark attacks for protecting swimmers and surfers. Lastly, we introduce one of the first autonomous drone herding systems for mustering a large number of farm animals efficiently. Simulations have been conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. We believe that our findings in this thesis shed new light on the fundamental benefits of autonomous civilian drones

Contributions to sustainable urban transport : decision support for alternative mobility and logistics concepts

Increasing transport activities in cities are a substantial driver for congestion and pollution, influencing urban populations’ health and quality of life. These effects are consequences of ongoing urbanization in combination with rising individual demand for mobility, goods, and services. With the goal of increased environmental sustainability in urban areas, city authorities and politics aim for reduced traffic and minimized transport emissions. To support more efficient and sustainable urban transport, this cumulative dissertation focuses on alternative transport concepts. For this purpose, scientific methods and models of the interdisciplinary information systems domain combined with elements of operations research, transportation, and logistics are developed and investigated in multiple research contributions. Different transport concepts are examined in terms of optimization and acceptance to provide decision support for relevant stakeholders. In more detail, the overarching topic of urban transport in this dissertation is divided into the complexes urban mobility (part A) in terms of passenger transport and urban logistics (part B) with a focus on the delivery of goods and services. Within part A, approaches to carsharing optimization are presented at various planning levels. Furthermore, the user acceptance of ridepooling is investigated. Part B outlines several optimization models for alternative urban parcel and e-grocery delivery concepts by proposing different network structures and transport vehicles. Conducted surveys on intentional use of urban logistics concepts give valuable hints to providers and decision makers. The introduced approaches with their corresponding results provide target-oriented support to facilitate decision making based on quantitative data. Due to the continuous growth of urban transport, the relevance of decision support in this regard, but also the understanding of the key drivers for people to use certain services will further increase in the future. By providing decision support for urban mobility as well as urban logistics concepts, this dissertation contributes to enhanced economic, social, and environmental sustainability in urban areas

Unmanned Vehicle Systems & Operations on Air, Sea, Land

Unmanned Vehicle Systems & Operations On Air, Sea, Land is our fourth textbook in a series covering the world of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS). (Nichols R. K., 2018) (Nichols R. K., et al., 2019) (Nichols R. , et al., 2020)The authors have expanded their purview beyond UAS / CUAS systems. Our title shows our concern for growth and unique cyber security unmanned vehicle technology and operations for unmanned vehicles in all theaters: Air, Sea and Land – especially maritime cybersecurity and China proliferation issues. Topics include: Information Advances, Remote ID, and Extreme Persistence ISR; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles & How They Can Augment Mesonet Weather Tower Data Collection; Tour de Drones for the Discerning Palate; Underwater Autonomous Navigation & other UUV Advances; Autonomous Maritime Asymmetric Systems; UUV Integrated Autonomous Missions & Drone Management; Principles of Naval Architecture Applied to UUV’s; Unmanned Logistics Operating Safely and Efficiently Across Multiple Domains; Chinese Advances in Stealth UAV Penetration Path Planning in Combat Environment; UAS, the Fourth Amendment and Privacy; UV & Disinformation / Misinformation Channels; Chinese UAS Proliferation along New Silk Road Sea / Land Routes; Automaton, AI, Law, Ethics, Crossing the Machine – Human Barrier and Maritime Cybersecurity.Unmanned Vehicle Systems are an integral part of the US national critical infrastructure The authors have endeavored to bring a breadth and quality of information to the reader that is unparalleled in the unclassified sphere. Unmanned Vehicle (UV) Systems & Operations On Air, Sea, Land discusses state-of-the-art technology / issues facing U.S. UV system researchers / designers / manufacturers / testers. We trust our newest look at Unmanned Vehicles in Air, Sea, and Land will enrich our students and readers understanding of the purview of this wonderful technology we call UV.https://newprairiepress.org/ebooks/1035/thumbnail.jp