Optimizing Drone Delivery for Real-World Conditions: Addressing Weather and GPS Constraints
In December 2013, Amazon's drone delivery announcement generated enormous buzz — but over a decade later, most of us still haven't had a package drop from the sky onto our doorstep. However, companies like Walmart have recently announced massive expansion plans, and in select markets, drone delivery is making a shift from experimental to routine. This talk examines why drone delivery is finally gaining traction and where it's headed. The presentation explores the technical foundations of modern drone delivery systems and profiles companies successfully operating at scale. A key focus will be distinguishing between two fundamentally different operational paradigms: scheduled versus on-demand delivery, each with distinct technical and business implications. The majority of the talk explores the practical challenges of scheduled drone delivery operations, particularly those involving coordinated drones and delivery trucks in inclement weather. Additional challenges posed by GPS vulnerabilities, including jamming and spoofing, will also be highlighted. The talk presents optimization algorithms designed to address these challenges and discusses future research opportunities.
Chase Murray
Chase Murray is an associate professor in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo and director of the Structure for Outdoor Autonomy Research (SOAR), one of the largest enclosed drone testing facilities in the United States. His research focuses on optimization algorithms for unmanned vehicle operations, particularly in drone delivery and logistics applications. Murray's work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, DARPA, the Federal Highway Administration, and the National Football League. He previously held positions at Auburn University, Intel, and Dallas Semiconductor.