IoT Techniques and Elements for Drone Package Delivery Networks
delivery network is a system-of-systems , where individual components are first designed and integrated , and then the entire system is integrated and commissioned .
Figure 3-1 is an overview of the components of a drone cargo delivery network . The details of each of these components will be described in subsequent sections , along with the IoT sensors , actuators , computing and networking that support them . Of course , the drones actually carrying the cargo are central to the network architecture . They come in many sizes , with takeoff weights ranging from under 250g ( 0.55lbs ) to heavy-lift cargo drones with cargo capacity up to 225kg ( almost 500lbs ) [ 10 ].
Various types of structured landing pads , drone docks , robotic mailboxes , and automated warehouses load the cargo onto the drones and receive it at the delivery location . Additional radio and sensor elements provide wireless and wired network connectivity , weather sensors , and monitoring the performance and safety of the airspace and delivery system . Eventually , these networks could contain security screening systems similar to airports that make sure the drones and the cargo they carry are safe , even for operation over heavily populated areas .
4 USE CASES
Figure 3-1 : Drone cargo delivery network components .
Examples of use cases for this network can be addressed in various service domains .
4.1 MEDICAL CARGO / LAB SAMPLES
One of the earliest applications of drone delivery is medical . Remote clinics may be only a few kilometers from a large central hospital , but due to traffic or terrain , it may take hours for a
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