Risk analysis in last-mile drone delivery

Abstract

In the 21st century, as science and technology have advanced and society has changed, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, have brought opportunities as well as challenges to most logistics organizations. Drones are being investigated by an increasing number of logistics organizations globally for last-mile delivery. However, there is still an opportunity for development in terms of the stability, safety, accuracy, and efficiency of drone delivery. These days, a lot of scholarly research concentrates on addressing im-pending urban logistics issues, resolving delivery last-mile paradoxes, and increasing last-mile delivery efficiency. However, existing literature has not provided a comprehensive description of risk analysis for driving the last-mile drone delivery and the actual scenarios that enterprises face. The information about specific factors regarding risk analysis for last-mile drone delivery from the current literature is limited, leading to the need for this study.

The authors employed qualitative research methods to identify and categorize potential dangers as well as suggest solutions to help logistics organizations lower the risks generated by last-mile drone delivery. The author collected data through theoretical literature and semi-structured interviews and finally compared and analyzed to conclusions.

The research findings indicate that three potential solutions, including advanced technological support, comprehensive risk assessment testing for drones, and the proposal of innovative delivery concepts, can effectively address the potential risks faced by logistics enterprises in last-mile drone delivery. These solutions help reduce the risks associated with last-mile drone delivery. Furthermore, this study which serves as a case study related to risk analysis for last-mile drone delivery, can provide data and insights for future quantitative analysis of potential safety risks in drone delivery. Additionally, relevant drone logistics enterprises can utilize the research data from this study to develop practical approaches and establish theoretical data models for drone delivery risks, thereby reducing potential safety risks in last-mile delivery.