Drone Delivery

Urban logistics is facing growing pressure to become faster, safer, and more sustainable. The demand for same-day delivery in densely populated areas continues to rise, while traditional transport systems struggle with congestion, emissions, and limited last-mile efficiency.

Conventional delivery methods rely heavily on ground vehicles, which are constrained by road infrastructure and urban traffic. Even electric vehicles, while reducing emissions, cannot fully solve the spatial and time-efficiency limitations of city logistics.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent a promising alternative for short-range delivery of small and medium-sized payloads. However, most current drone delivery systems remain in experimental stages, limited by factors such as short flight endurance, low safety levels, and the inability to precisely identify safe landing or drop-off zones in complex environments.

This project addresses these challenges by developing a VTOL delivery system equipped with Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) propulsion and an AI-based localization module capable of identifying safe delivery spots and assessing environmental risks in real time.

The project aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of drone-based parcel delivery by introducing a new VTOL platform powered by Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) propulsion. This technology offers higher operational safety thanks to enclosed rotors and improved aerodynamic stability, which are essential for flight in complex urban environments.

A key part of the research focuses on developing an intelligent safety and localization system capable of identifying safe delivery zones and assessing potential environmental risks through machine learning and AI. These technologies will allow the drone to analyze its surroundings in real time and make autonomous decisions during the final phase of parcel delivery.

The system is currently undergoing experimental validation, focusing on propulsion behavior, control response, and the integration of onboard perception. Insights from ongoing flight tests will guide further refinement toward fully autonomous and reliable delivery operations.