AI-based low-altitude delivery fresh food supply Chain: Research progress and trends

Abstract

Background

Fresh food is an indispensable part of daily life and is consumed by people in relatively large quantities. However, it is a perishable food, which can easily lead to a decline in freshness and a decrease in nutritional value during the supply chain process, and therefore the efficient operation of its supply chain is crucial for ensuring product quality, reducing wastage, lowering costs, and improving customer satisfaction.

Scope and approach

Here, we examine how integrating low-altitude delivery technologies—such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—with artificial intelligence (AI) can transform freshness preservation and operational sustainability. The combination of low-altitude delivery technology (e.g., UAVs) and AI provides a new paradigm for the efficiency and intelligence of fresh food supply chain. This paper analyzes the important role of AI in demand forecasting and inventory management, path optimization and dynamic scheduling, quality monitoring and management, Autonomous obstacle avoidance and safety control, and highlighting the innovation potential of UAV-enabled supply chain delivery. The challenges and future development direction of AI low-altitude delivery in fresh food supply chain are discussed.

Key findings and conclusions

This review shows that AI-driven low-altitude delivery can improve the efficiency and sustainability of the fresh food supply chain and help to protect the quality characteristics of fresh food. However, technological and public acceptability hurdles remain, including the need for low-noise UAVs, continued advancements in drone capabilities, the establishment of robust regulatory standards, and the protection of data security. Despite these challenges, the integration of AI-driven low-altitude delivery technologies into fresh food supply chains represents an emerging trend in delivery innovation. Integrating UAVs with unmanned electric refrigerated vehicles and delivery robots is expected to form an efficient and environmentally sustainable delivery model. Adopting shared-use UAV fleets for low-altitude fresh food delivery can reduce operational costs while supporting multifunctional applications in drone delivery. By adopting these innovations, AI-enabled low-altitude delivery systems could transform fresh food supply chains, minimizing waste, and aligning with global sustainability goals.