Optimization of Multi-package Drone Deliveries Considering Battery Capacity
Drone delivery has been tested by private companies around world. With advanced safety and reliability features, such as automated flight and sense-and-avoid technology to prevent collisions, it appears that deliveries by drone will soon be practical. This paper deals with an automated drone delivery system, rather than cooperative delivery by drones and trucks. The study assumes that a drone can lift multiple packages within its maximum payload and serve recipients in a service area of given radius. Battery capacities, the primary energy sources for drone operation, are analyzed to relate parcel payloads and flight ranges. Numerical analysis is used to optimize the drone fleet size for a service area, by minimizing the total costs of the delivery system. Four variables are explored to show the sensitivity of system outputs to input parameters: working period, drone operating speed, demand density of service area, and battery capacity. Extended daily working periods are shown to benefit both service providers and users. Increased drone operating speed reduces overall costs, but increases operating and investment costs for suppliers. The study indicates that drone deliveries are more economical in areas with high demand densities. Lastly, the large amount of energy storage resulted from battery improvement can reduce the number of drones satisfying all demands in a service area.
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AV060 Standing Committee on Airfield and Airspace Capacity and Delay. Alternate title: Optimization of Multipackage Drone Deliveries Considering Battery Capacity
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Choi, Youngmin
- Schonfeld, Paul M
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2017-1-8 to 2017-1-12
- Date: 2017
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 16p
- Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automated vehicle control; Delivery service; Drones; Electric batteries; Energy storage systems; Optimization; Vehicle range
- Uncontrolled Terms: Battery energy capacities; Payload
- Subject Areas: Aviation; Energy; Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01630325
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 17-05769
- Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Mar 27 2017 9:34AM