The effects of costs on drone uptake in multi-modal logistics systems within a healthcare setting

Abstract

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs; commonly known as drones) have been gaining interest as a potential transport mode for logistics (i.e., payload delivery), bringing suggested benefits such as reduced transit times and improved access in hard-to-reach locations. However, drones have yet to become widely established in routine logistics systems, with a postulated reason being that the higher costs associated with operating drones relative to traditional surface transport modes (e.g., vans, bicycle couriers) present a barrier to uptake. Based on case studies of two real-world logistics networks transporting patient pathology samples in a healthcare setting in the United Kingdom, this study investigated the effects of the relative costs of drones on mode choice in integrated, multi-modal logistics systems. Results suggested that drones could be a financially viable option if their costs reduced below ∼19% of current values, although such a reduction may not be feasible, even in a future involving increased drone automation. Drones reduced sample transit times by up to ∼70% compared to vans but benefits to the wider healthcare system were negligible because level of service requirements for transit times could be achieved by all modes.