Mizzou Engineering paves the way for groundbreaking innovations in last-mile logistics // Mizzou Engineering

15 August 2024

A Mizzou researcher is developing a cloud-based route optimization platform to increase operational efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of last-mile logistics.

In a significant advancement for last-mile delivery technology, researchers in Mizzou’s School of Engineering have received a grant from the Partnerships for Innovation – Technology Translation (PFI-TT) program aimed at optimizing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electric trucks. This initiative promises to address the most pressing efficiency and sustainability challenges in a sector critical to the burgeoning e-commerce market.

The global last-mile logistics market, which accounts for 41% of total supply costs and significantly impacts global greenhouse gas emissions, is undergoing a transformation process. The project, led by Sharan Srinivas, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering, aims to develop a cloud-based route optimization platform that integrates drones and electric trucks into a cohesive delivery system, increasing operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

“This innovative project addresses critical engineering challenges such as integrating vehicle routing and network communications to ensure reliable and optimized routes for a scalable fleet of electric trucks and UAVs,” said Srinivas. “Researchers are developing new optimization models and heuristics tailored to solve the unique routing problems these technologies pose. And the project includes dynamic routing models that use machine learning to account for variables such as airspace management, environmental conditions, and network communications.”

The benefits of this work go beyond logistical efficiency. For last-mile service providers, the technology is expected to increase fleet utilization, reduce operational costs, and improve safety – while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of delivery services. The environmental and economic impact of the project is closely aligned with global sustainability goals, providing a greener, more cost-effective approach to delivery services.

“The application of this technology is reaching critical areas beyond e-commerce,” said Srinivas. “It includes important applications such as medical deliveries, emergency response and humanitarian operations. This versatility underlines the potential of the technology to become an indispensable tool in various sectors, providing reliable and efficient delivery solutions.”

By integrating advanced UAV and electric truck technologies, this project not only sets a new standard for logistics efficiency, but also increases the economic competitiveness of the United States in the global market and promises a more sustainable and efficient future for delivery services.

This project builds on a related project by Mizzou Engineers that focuses on optimizing delivery routes using electric vehicles and drones, addressing the costly and environmentally damaging segment of last-mile delivery.

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