Overview of unmanned aircraft cargo delivery systems

摘要

The article is devoted to an overview of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS according to GOST R 59517–2021, or in a number of publications – unmanned aerial vehicles or drones) capable of delivering various cargoes. The options for their application in various fields, including agriculture and forestry, fishing, wildlife protection, air quality monitoring, mining, defense and civilian use, search and rescue operations, are given and briefly analyzed. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the identified capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems in terms of cargo delivery for various purposes, as well as the availability of infrastructures when receiving cargo for further transportation and its delivery at the place of delivery. The history of the development of unmanned vehicle technologies is given. The relevant standards of the Russian Federation, classification and categorization of UAS in the Russian Federation and abroad are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of UAS are described, as well as the problems of delivering mail using drones. Conclusions are drawn about the desire of developers and trends to create intelligent, fully automatic robotic aviation systems, however, it is noted that fully automatic systems do not yet exist in the world, therefore, this area of development is relevant. It is concluded that it is necessary to carry out scientific and technical developments in terms of creating automatic delivery of mail and other items, especially relevant for megacities in which the largest part of the population of developed countries is concentrated. At the same time, it is obvious that the delivery system should consist of at least three stages – warehouse sorting, direct flight and navigation, and cargo shipment to the appropriate post office. Each stage is an infrastructural concept with a complex system and logistics that requires artificial intelligence, robotic devices, and other elements and attributes of complex systems that are subject to comprehensive study in technical, legislative, legal, and logistical terms.