International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 9 Issue 1, Jan-Feb 2025 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

Drones in Transportation
Matthew N. O. Sadiku1, Paul A. Adekunte2, Janet O. Sadiku3
1
Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA
2
International Institute of Professional Security, Lagos, Nigeria
3
Juliana King University, Houston, TX, USA

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Matthew N. O.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and unmanned aircraft systems Sadiku | Paul A. Adekunte | Janet O.
(UAS), commonly termed drones, have the potential to become some Sadiku "Drones in Transportation"
of the most influential and iconic technologies of the 21st century. Published in
International
Dones are very popular among the American people, so much so that
Journal of Trend in
there are more than one million drones registered with the FAA. Scientific Research
Drone integration into distribution and transportation systems is one and Development
of the most exciting developments in this field. They can enhance the (ijtsrd), ISSN:
logistics and transportation sectors, where efficiency, speed, and cost- 2456-6470, IJTSRD75121
effectiveness are paramount. Drone delivery could influence not only Volume-9 | Issue-1,
shipping procedures, but the transportation industry as well. This February 2025, pp.846-853, URL:
paper studies the various uses of drone in the transportation industry. www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd75121.pdf

KEYWORDS: drones, unmanned aircrafts, unmanned aerial vehicles Copyright © 2025 by author (s) and
(UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), transportation, International Journal of Trend in
transportation industry Scientific Research and Development
Journal. This is an
Open Access article
distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

INTRODUCTION
Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles transportation. With a wide range of possibilities,
(UAVs), have been around since the 20th century. drones could influence the future of the industry in
They first came into existence for military purposes. every aspect, from mobility to infrastructure
As the technology improved and costs reduced, development and traffic management. We have heard
drones started visiting other sectors of the market like rumors about companies like Amazon, UPS, DHL,
aerial photography and agriculture. Drones combine and other delivery giants exploring the possibilities of
three key principles of technological modernity: data providing some of their services through drones.
processing, autonomy, and boundless mobility.
WHAT IS A DRONE?
Drones are driven by a general motivation to make
At least three terms are used to describe drones,
processes faster and more flexible, while improving
depending on how they are operated. The terms
precision and cost-efficiency. Depending on their
include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),
technological specifications, electrically powered
Unpiloted Aircraft System (UAS), and Remote
delivery drones can lift weights in the range of 1–8
Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). The FAA defines
kg, and can conduct flight missions in a range of 10–
drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles
50 km.
(UAVs), as any aircraft system without a flight crew
The current state of transportation operations is onboard. Drones include flying, floating, and other
undergoing significant transformation. Traditional devices, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),
methods like mailmen, UPS deliveries, and brick-and- that can fly independently along set routes using an
mortar stores are still prevalent, but innovative onboard computer or follow commands transmitted
approaches are emerging, particularly in the use of remotely by a pilot on the ground. A typical drone is
drones. One of the industries that offers the most shown in Figure 1 [1]. A drone is usually controlled
potential to leverage drone technology is remotely by a human pilot on the ground, as typically

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shown in Figure 2 [1]. Drones can range in size from predictive maintenance, reduction in inspection times,
large military drones to smaller drones. Drones, and overall cost savings [4].
previously used for military purposes, have started to
TRANSPORTATION DRONES
be used for civilian purposes since the 2000s. Since
Drones are part of larger networks called Unmanned
then, drones have continued to be used in intelligence, Aerial Systems (UAS), which not only include the
aerial surveillance, search and rescue, reconnaissance,
vehicles but also the controllers, sensors, GPS, and
and offensive missions as part of the military Internet
radio components that work together to complete the
of things (IoT). Today, drones are used for different mission. Transportation drones are used to transport
purposes such as aerial photography, surveillance, people and packages. They could revolutionize urban
agriculture, entertainment, healthcare, transportation,
transportation by reducing traffic congestion,
law enforcement, etc. lowering emissions, and improving quality of life.
Drones work much like other modes of air Drones have been used for years by the military and
transportation, such as helicopters and airplanes. government, but using drones for commercial
When the engine is turned on, it starts up, and the
package delivery is becoming a new industry. The
propellers rotate to enable flight. The motors spin the
government is investing high capital for the
propellers and the propellers push against the air
installation of drones in a transportation business that
molecules downward, which pulls the drone upwards.
helps in providing relief to the people by transporting
Once the drone is flying, it is able to move forward,
medicines, food, and other things during an
back, left, and right by spinning each of the propellers
emergency.
at a different speed. Then, the pilot uses the remote
control to direct its flight from the ground [2], Drone technology now seems to provide a new
solution to old transportation problems such as
Drone laws exist to ensure a high level of safety in
congestion and delivery. The drone transportation
the skies, especially near sensitive areas like airports.
market is experiencing rapid growth driven by
They also aim to address privacy concerns that arise
advancements in autonomous technologies and the
when camera drones fly in residential areas. These
increasing demand for efficient, cost-effective
include the requirement to keep your drone within
deliveries. The market is at the intersection of cutting-
sight at all times when airborne. In the United States,
edge robotics development and the logistics
drones weighing less than 250g are exempt from industry’s need for speed and efficiency.
registration with civil aviation authorities. If your
drone exceeds 250g in weight, you will also require a APPLICATIONS OF TRANSPORTATION
Flyer ID, which requires passing a test [3]. It is DRONES
necessary to register as an operator, be trained as a Departments of Transportation are increasingly using
pilot, and have civil liability insurance, in addition to autonomous drones for monitoring and performing
complying with various flight regulations, and those inspections of critical infrastructure such as bridges
of the places where their use is permitted. and highways. Common areas of applications of
drone in transportation include the following [5]:
Most drones have a limited payload, usually under 11
pounds. Drones are classified according to their size.  Drone Taxis: Passenger drones, so called air
Here are the different drone types: taxis, have already proven their technical ability
 Nano Drone: 80-100 mm to transport passengers within or between cities.
 Micro Drone: 100-150 mm Drones would carry one or two passengers over
 Small Drone: 150-250 mm short distances. Passenger drones with their
 Medium Drone: 250-400 mm ability to transport a maximum of five passengers
 Large Drone: 400+ mm (or even less) per air taxi are equally limited by
capacity. As travel time savings may more likely
One of the emerging trends in drone use for factories
be realized with increasing flight distances. Air
is the utilization of LiDAR technology. LiDAR stands
taxis' limited battery capacities account for
for Light Detection and Ranging. This technology
another setback regarding the central promise of
provides accurate depth information essential for
time savings.
understanding the three-dimensional structure of the
environment. LiDAR sensors emit laser beams to  Drone Delivery: In a world where convenience
measure distances to objects, creating high-resolution and promptness are crucial, customers expect
3D maps of the surrounding terrain and objects. The quicker deliveries. Consequently, businesses have
ability to capture detailed data through LiDAR been compelled to reconsider their plans to find
technology has opened up opportunities for better more economical and effective methods,
including drone logistics. Delivery drones are

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currently among the most intensely discussed throughout the US have been increasingly
emerging technologies. Drones would deliver adopting the use of drones for critical
packages to customers. As soon as several parcels infrastructure such as bridges. Figure 5 shows a
have to be delivered conventional delivery typical infrastructure drone inspection [7].
methods remain more energy efficient, especially
 Emergency Response: Emergency response and
in cases where recipients can be grouped along
disaster relief rely heavily in the transportation
routes. Individual drone-based parcel delivery
industry due to their need for rapid deployment,
services are already being rolled out. Figure 3
evacuation and rescue, supply chain support,
shows a typical delivery drone [5].
infrastructure restoration, aerial support and
 Cargo Drones: This can be a very scary term but surveillance, traffic management, route
less so if it helps us move large objects, which is optimization, etc. Drones’ capabilities offer a
why cargo drones are likely to be viewed quick alternative to survey affected areas, identify
positively by the public. They are closer to being potential hazards, locate survivors, reach
at a store near you than you think. Currently, inaccessible or hazardous environments, deliver
there are four different cargo drone use cases, in supplies, and in general facilitate relief efforts
varying states of implementation: automation of with speed, efficiency, and reduced human risk.
intralogistics, covering factories and warehouses; Figure 6 shows a drone-delivered medical supply
parcel delivery (first/last mile), catering to dense [8].
urban areas; supply of medical goods, normally to
 Traffic Management: Drones featuring advanced
hard-to-reach places; and transportation of air
sensors and cameras could offer a great solution
freight, usually in rural areas. An important
for effective traffic management in congested
application for cargo drones as one would
areas. By providing real time data, drones can
imagine is medical supply transport. The parcel
help optimize traffic flow and routes. Figure 7
delivery sector will shape the future development
shows a typical traffic situation [5].
of cargo drone use cases and other drone
applications. Typical cargo drone delivery is  Surveying: Drones have revolutionized our
shown in Figure 4 [6]. perspective and utilization of aerial technology.
Drones can carry out topographic surveys for new
 Urban Air Mobility (UAM): Drones might be a
routes or alterations to an existing corridor with
feasible answer to urban air mobility (UAM).
similar accuracy to measurements collected by
While the field is still very much in its early
traditional methods, but in significantly less time.
stages, UAM envisions a network of smaller,
It can be as straightforward as using drones to
electric, and highly automated aircraft able to
simulate and confirm the proper topographic
provide transportation within cities. This on-
location and height at which to install traffic
demand service would rely highly on drones.
cameras to ensure complete 360-degree visuals.
 Infrastructure Inspection: Departments of The raw aerial imagery made by a drone can be
Transportation are increasingly using autonomous translated into orthomosaics, composite images
drones for monitoring and performing inspections made by stitching together hundreds of smaller
of critical infrastructure such as bridges and images taken by drones and then corrected for
highways. An autonomous drone can eliminate distortion. Post-incident, a drone can collect
the need for a manual inspection which can be imagery for a visual snapshot of the scene.
difficult and dangerous. Autonomous drone
 Postal Service: The Postal Service has winnowed
inspections are also less expensive to perform.
down the companies bidding to build the next
Using autonomous drone technology to monitor
generation of its delivery vehicles - and one of
and inspect infrastructure can improve workflow
them is offering up an all-electric truck that
efficiency and lower costs. By leveraging their
doubles as a drone launcher. The Service also
high-resolution image and video, and its capacity
wants lower maintenance requirements and better
to reach inaccessible or dangerous locations,
fuel economy than its current fleet, as well as
drones play a critical role in developments like
design flexibility to allow for the incorporation of
bridges, power lines, and tall buildings. Regular
future technology. Integrating drone technology
inspections with drones can help identify
on top of electric truck is the best solution for the
maintenance issues in a quick and efficient way
Postal Service. The drone delivers a package
that can save time, money, the longevity of a
either on its own or controlled by a pilot remotely
structure, and the safety of people who use it.
to another address a mile or two away, saving the
Transportation and other individual state agencies

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mail carrier time and allowing them to reach more technology. For example, air taxis are considered
addresses. to reduce carbon/noise footprint in comparison to
BENEFITS fossil-fueled helicopters. In order to make drones
The expectations of using drones for modes of a (more) environmentally friendly technology, the
transportation are dominated by economic benefits. electric energy powering drones would have to be
What makes drones particularly innovative is their fully generated from renewable energy sources.
ability to operate in complex environments. They can  Travel Time Reduction: Travel time reduction is
fly over traffic jams, reach isolated rural locations, achieved by avoiding the ground traffic
and even work in adverse weather conditions, all congestion. Given travelers' tendency to spend
while providing real-time tracking and monitoring of achieved time savings on additional or longer
goods in transit. They can also play a significant role trips, there is reason to believe that this
in planning and designing maintenance of traffic mechanism would also apply in the case of
plans during construction of transportation projects. passenger drones. Insufficient air traffic
Drones are increasingly used in combination with management capacities are also known to
traffic patrol vehicles to monitor and manage drastically hamper time savings in aviation
congestion and traffic incidents. Other benefits
 Asset Management: In the initial planning stages,
include the following [9]:
drones can help planners be smarter about
 Mobility: Some see drones as an opportunity for thinking through the entire life cycle of a project,
sustainable mobility. The emergence of passenger avoiding overdesigning projects, saving costs, and
drones is witnessed as a major trend in the reducing timelines. Once a highway or bridge has
mobility sector, transforming the way people been planned, designed, and constructed, drones
move around. Mobility here is understood as a can help manage these assets.
social phenomenon that must be evaluated
 Medical Supplies: Fast and reliable transportation
according to its consequences for a variety of
of medical goods can save lives. A public-private
actors. In addition to an interest in the social
partnership will use drones to deliver critical
“production” of movements, contemporary
medical supplies and food during the crisis. The
mobility studies focus on sustainable mobility
future of drones in transportation and logistics
concepts and the understanding of the mobile
will allow doctors to order a medical supply they
“subject.” Figure 8 shows passenger drones
need via phone and get it delivered by a drone.
connecting other transport mode [10].
CHALLENGES
 Cost: It is primarily expected that drone-
Beyond delivery drones' technical capabilities there
supported logistics services will lead to lower
are various limiting factors that render the notion of
costs for companies in the rapidly growing and
actual ground traffic reduction questionable.
price sensitive logistics sector. The integration of
Transport-related promises of delivery drones lack a
drones into supply chains can reduce delivery
scientific validation. Economic expectations are
times, lower costs, and address logistics
juxtaposed with quite complex and differentiated
challenges in remote or congested areas. Because
concerns regarding societal and environmental
drones collect large amounts of data in a fraction
impacts. Another challenge is the interdiction of
of time it might take using traditional methods,
storage and dissemination of personal data without
they can also save money and reduce staff time.
knowledge of the person concerned. How do we
 Sustainable Transportation: One of the world's control 100,000 drones in the air flying at once?
key challenges today is to reduce the global CO2 Other challenges include the following [9]:
footprint. Transportation is also considered
 Societal Concerns: Societal perspectives of civil
critical because the sector's emission levels have
drone deployment have so far played a
continuously grown. A sustainable transportation
comparatively marginal role. There is lack of
future would mean to travel less, with shorter
acceptance for drones among the public. Negative
distances and using more eco-friendly modes of
societal implications of using transportation
transportation. Assessing the environmental
drones form the dominating issue within potential
benefits of delivery drones is complex and
problems.
dependent on the respective deployment scenario.
Drones are regarded as an environmentally  Societal Change: Occurrences of societal change
friendly technology for both logistics and are the major problems identified. The
passenger transportation. The main reason is the widespread use of drones could divide society if
fact that drones are a fully electric transportation some people benefit while others are concerned.

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The most frequently addressed societal benefit is  Battery Efficiency: There are difficulties
the reduction of traffic congestion and the concerning battery capacity and data
shortening of commuting times. communication. Longer flight times and more
 Ethical Concerns: Ethical problems represent substantial payload capacities are critical. Future
potential problems in drone transportation. The drone systems will need innovations in battery
concern of privacy violations is the key issue technology to handle heavier loads and cover
here. There are concern about the lack of greater distances.
transparency regarding aims and purposes of CONCLUSION
drone operations. It is followed by issues of data Drones are not yet able to conduct complex multiple
privacy and the potential of increased deliveries and therefore can hardly be considered a
surveillance. Delivery drones also bear the competition for conventional city logistics. As
potential of (intentionally or unintentionally) delivery and passenger drones may soon come closer
causing privacy infringements when deployed to real life implementation they will become more
close to private spaces. ‘tangible’ to wider parts of society. Drones are
 Environment Concern: A key consideration in already making a huge impact, and the possibilities
any transportation planning project is are still endless. Drones are expected to become a
environmental impact. The topic of environment “game changer technology” for the transportation
and sustainability is mostly characterized by a sector, with the potential to revolutionize logistics
lack of solid scientific evidence and uncertainties processes and passenger transportation. The race to
about the environmental impact of drones. Key create autonomous flying vehicles is on, with
issues in environmental planning and companies such as Uber, Airbus and Volocopter
environmental review are traffic impacts already developing them.
(including safety) and congestion. Additional Although drones are already common in security
potential problem areas of using drones for services, military, and agriculture, their use as
transportation purposes include negative effects transportation devices is still in its infancy. Drones
of noise pollution. There are uncertainties have the potential to become an iconic technology of
regarding actual energy efficiencies and the 21st century. We are nowhere near the full
emissions of delivery drones. potential of this future-now devices. Future
 Regulations: The evolving regulatory landscape development of drone technologies will be
poses a challenge. In terms of necessary increasingly dependent on public acceptance. The
conditions, comprehensive regulations for drone future of drone transportation hinges on further
operation are the number one priority. For advancements in AI, sensor technology, and
example, will there be rules and guidelines on autonomous flight systems. More information about
how to navigate drones within designated air drones in the transportation industry can be found the
space? Debates on drones are strongly dominated following related journals:
by technical and regulatory issues. The debate is  American Journal of Transportation
characterized by predominantly technical and  Transportation Research Interdisciplinary
regulatory problems and barriers which are Perspectives
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Figure 1 A typical drone [1].

Figure 2 A drone is usually controlled by operators on the ground [1].

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Figure 3 A typical delivery drone [5].

Figure 4 A typical cargo drone delivery [6].

Figure 5 An infrastructure drone inspection [7].

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Figure 6 A drone-delivered medical supply [8].

Figure 7 A typical traffic situation [5].

Figure 8 Passenger drones connecting other transport mode [10].

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