Urban drone last-mile delivery model from the perspective of multimodal transportation
Yunxiang Zhong
Guangdong University of Science & Technology
Huilin Li
Guangdong University of Science & Technology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/bam.v8i2.14516
Keywords: multimodal transportation; drone delivery; last-mile logistics; urban logistics
Abstract
With the rapid integration of the digital economy and the low-altitude economy, the demand for urban logistics services continues to increase. The last-mile delivery stage has become a critical bottleneck affecting logistics efficiency and cost control. Traditional ground-based delivery systems face significant challenges, including traffic congestion, rising labor costs, and growing demand for instant delivery. Drones, characterized by flexible routing, rapid response, and independence from ground traffic conditions, offer a promising solution for urban last-mile logistics. However, limitations such as restricted payload capacity, short battery endurance, and strict airspace regulation hinder the large-scale adoption of standalone drone delivery systems. From the perspective of multimodal transportation, integrating drones with ground logistics resources can form an air–ground collaborative delivery system, improving overall logistics efficiency. This paper analyzes the operational mechanism of urban drone last-mile delivery under a multimodal transportation framework. Based on multimodal transportation theory, collaborative governance theory, and supply chain management theory, the study examines the technological, network, operational, and institutional challenges faced by drone delivery systems. Furthermore, it proposes optimization strategies including technological innovation, infrastructure planning, collaborative operation mechanisms, and regulatory improvement. The study concludes that multimodal drone delivery can significantly enhance urban logistics efficiency and represents an important direction for the integration of the low-altitude economy and modern logistics.
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