The Role of IoT in Shaping the Future of Supply Chain 23rd edition | Page 32

1 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 29

1.1

Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 29

1.2

Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 29

1.3

Scope ................................................................................................................................ 29

1.4

Structure ........................................................................................................................... 29

2 Motivations and Challenges ............................................................................................ 30

2.1

Delivery Speed .................................................................................................................. 30

2.2

Traffic Congestion .............................................................................................................. 30

2.3

Environmental Considerations / Carbon Footprint .............................................................. 31

2.4

Labor Content ................................................................................................................... 31

2.5

Cargo Security ................................................................................................................... 31

2.6

Scalability .......................................................................................................................... 31

2.7

Regulation ......................................................................................................................... 32

2.8

Cost .................................................................................................................................. 32

4 Use Cases ........................................................................................................................ 33

4.1

Medical Cargo / Lab Samples ............................................................................................. 33

4.2

Food Delivery .................................................................................................................... 34

4.3

Military Logistics ............................................................................................................... 34

5 Drone Cargo Delivery Network Elements ......................................................................... 34

5.1

Cargo Drones ..................................................................................................................... 34

5.1.1

Rotors ( Propellers + Motors ) ............................................................................................. 35

5.1.2

Batteries ............................................................................................................................. 36

5.1.3

Flight Control Computer .................................................................................................... 36

5.1.4

Auxiliary Computers .......................................................................................................... 37

5.1.5

Network Connections ........................................................................................................ 38

5.1.6

Airframe ............................................................................................................................. 38

5.1.7

Cargo Management System .............................................................................................. 38

5.2

Landing Pads , Drone Docks Smart Drone Mailboxes and Automated Warehouses ............... 39

5.2.1

Passive Landing Pads ......................................................................................................... 39

5.2.2

Drone Docks ....................................................................................................................... 39

5.2.3

Smart Drone Mailboxes ..................................................................................................... 40

5.2.4

Drone-enabled Warehouses .............................................................................................. 40

5.2.5

Sensors and Actuators ....................................................................................................... 41

5.3

Other Ground Support Resources ....................................................................................... 42

5.3.1

Wireless Network Nodes ................................................................................................... 42

5.3.2

Sensor Arrays ..................................................................................................................... 42

5.3.3

Security Screening Devices ................................................................................................ 43

5.4

Control / Computing Resources .......................................................................................... 43

5.4.1

Ground Support Processors ............................................................................................... 44

5.4.2

Edge Computing ................................................................................................................ 44

5.4.3

Cloud Computing ............................................................................................................... 44

5.5

Cargo Delivery Flow ........................................................................................................... 45