Amazon Drone Beehive Concept (2019)
13 days ago
- #drone delivery
- #last-mile logistics
- #urban transport
- The study explores the viability of drone-based last-mile delivery in European cities, estimating potential market access under various scenarios.
- Four scenarios are considered, varying drone flight distance (12 km and 24 km) and population density thresholds for landing (115/ha, 130/ha, and no threshold).
- Under the most realistic scenario (12 km flight distance and 115/ha population threshold), up to 7% of EU citizens could access drone delivery services.
- Technological improvements could increase access to 30% of the population, with the UK, Germany, Italy, and France showing the highest potential due to population and land-use patterns.
- The study uses high-resolution EU-wide population and land-use data to model optimal drone-beehive locations based on economic viability.
- Key challenges include regulatory hurdles, urban planning considerations, and the need for public and industry involvement to address safety and environmental concerns.
- The research highlights disparities in service accessibility across EU member states, suggesting a potential polarisation in technology adoption.