The most complicated and expensive part of the supply chain is the last-mile delivery, where the costs can account for up to 28% of the total transportation cost and is projected to increase. The two main issues driving these costs will be the continual rise of e-commerce as well as rapid global urbanization, so there is a need for ways to optimize the delivery process to reduce costs. Urbanization leads to continued growth of traffic, which leads to transportation delays, higher fuel costs, and larger environmental impacts. These factors have led companies to consider deliveries by drone, but drones have limited battery capacities. Instead of looking at company delivery trucks as mobile charging stations from which to launch drones, a group of researchers considered utilizing public transportation vehicles to serve that purpose.
The idea of letting drones recharge or hitch rides on buses and trams to conserve energy was first introduced by Stanford researchers. The researchers in this work extended that idea to using multiple drones and multiple warehouses operating around the actual transportation nodes of a city (Bremen, Germany) and found that this is an attractive and viable approach that can be implemented in the real world.
Journal Reference:
Moadab, A., Farajzadeh, F. & Fatahi Valilai, O. Drone routing problem model for last-mile delivery using the public transportation capacity as moving charging stations. Sci Rep 12, 6361 (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10408-4
(Score: 3, Interesting) by MostCynical on Wednesday April 20 2022, @09:56PM (6 children)
Drones require a landing pad, and if they are going to be attaching themselves to buses, trucks or even trains, they are going to need to latch tot he vehicle.
Drones are different shapes and sizes, and every drone will have its own charging connections.
History does not indicate that this will go well.
Every phone company puts up phone towers, often on the same buildings, and with little regard for appearance or aesthetics
Every phone manufacturer invented a different charging plug, and the fight goes on, even with EU laws.
So drone operators will want to install 'their' drone catch/hold device on 'public' vehicles (note, many public transport services are actually privately run, so there is added complexity)
How many separate boxes are allowed on one bus?
How much reserve power will a drone need, if buses only run every 20-40 minutes, and the next bus doesn't have a carry point (or there is already a drone using it)?
Are drone autopilots clever enough not to take off in tunnels, under bridges, or inside covered/underground terminals?
Messy 'solution', even in an ideal world.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Wednesday April 20 2022, @11:28PM
Here you go [amazon.com]. They make great stocking stuffers too!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 20 2022, @11:37PM
Short range wireless charging is a thing.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Immerman on Wednesday April 20 2022, @11:47PM (2 children)
Conveniently, virtually all mass transit vehicles are made from steel, so the catch/hold part is easy with the same switchable permanent magnets used for lots of other things.
Charging is a bit more complicated, but could be left out entirely if they're only hitching a ride. After all, they'll need to return to the warehouse for their next package anyway, they can charge or swap batteries while there.
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Thursday April 21 2022, @06:21PM (1 child)
Drop a wheel onto the ground and use it to drive an alternator. I don't think a miniature wind turbine would generate enough charge to offset its own weight on a short bus ride. Thinking about it, the only way to do that kind of thing without an unacceptable weight penalty would be use the drone's own motor to generate electricity, maybe tipping the rotors forward to catch the wind.
error count exceeds 100; stopping compilation
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Friday April 22 2022, @01:54AM
For wheels to work you need to be close to the ground, which likely means attaching behind or underneath a bus, rather on the large, open, and easily accessible roof. Plus you'd need a wheel, a relatively long robot arm, and a crazy impressive suspension system to maintain contact with inevitable potholes, speed bumps, road debris, etc. All of which would seriously cut into payload capacity and flying range.
The propeller/turbine idea is interesting through. I suspect a drone's props are designed for much higher airspeed than a bus, so would likely lose a lot of efficiency, but as an essentially free option it might have potential.
(Score: 1) by pTamok on Thursday April 21 2022, @08:34AM
Not everywhere.
In the UK, tower sharing is common - might even be enforced. It makes sense to share the infrastructure - decreases costs for each company, and has aesthetic benefits. If anything, multiple towers shows a failure of the market - the operators are paying too much for their infrastructure. Sometimes, this might be on purpose: to provide (profitable) coverage in areas competitors don't, but multiple towers in the same area don't support that argument.
I expect the market will eventually shake out into a small number of large competitive delivery drone operators. and a number of smaller niche operators, much like the general logistics market.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 21 2022, @12:47AM
Are these drones buying a ticket?
If not, Would these companies then help fund public transportation?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 21 2022, @02:19AM
"letting drones recharge or hitch rides on buses and trams to conserve energy"
Gas, Grass or Ass, No One Rides For Free
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 21 2022, @11:02AM (2 children)
We are paying folks not to work. Maybe they could do a little public service in the bargain?
Perhaps deliver a package or flip a burger.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 21 2022, @02:27PM (1 child)
Who is getting paid not to work besides farmers?
(Score: 3, Touché) by Immerman on Friday April 22 2022, @01:57AM
Capitalists.