Multi-Modal Drone-to-Ground Delivery Networks: Optimizing the Autonomous Last-Yard

The last-mile delivery segment accounts for up to 50% of total supply chain costs. Multi-modal delivery networks — where autonomous ground vehicles serve as mobile hubs for launched delivery drones — combine the heavy payload capacity of vans with the rapid speed of aerial transit.

Optimizing these hybrid systems requires solving a synchronized Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW), dynamically coordinating van stopping locations with drone flight schedules and customer delivery promises.

Pairing autonomous ground delivery vans with tethered rooftop drones creates a flexible two-tier logistics system — Solving the synchronized vehicle routing problem with time windows.