The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to OPTIMIZING DRONE DEPLOYMENT FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MOVEMENT OF GOODS

This project optimizes drone deployment for microfreight using an improved optimization model (OMDD) that provides near-optimal fleet solutions in seconds (e.g., 0.01 seconds), greatly enhancing practicality. The public tools, including an Energy Calculator, support industry deployment and awareness. Analysis of mixed fleets (drones and ground vehicles) reveals that optimizing ground vehicle circuits significantly reduces energy consumption and required vehicle count when weather limits drone use, which occurs on more than half the days.