Optimization of urban logistics with multi-modal systems: A comprehensive study of the airship-vehicle routing problem

This paper presents a novel approach to the Airship-Vehicle Routing Problem (AVRP) with drone integration, aiming to optimize the delivery logistics in urban and rural environments. The model leverages a hybrid fleet comprising airships, ground vehicles, and drones, each with distinct operational capabilities and constraints. The airships serve as mobile hubs, deploying drones for last-mile deliveries, while ground vehicles handle bulk transportation from depots to intermediate nodes. The proposed Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model minimizes the total cost by considering the travel distances, operational costs, and delivery times for each vehicle type. The constraints ensure feasible routes for ground and aerial vehicles, adherence to capacity limits, and efficient synchronization between drones and their respective airships. Computational experiments on realistic datasets demonstrate the model’s efficacy in reducing delivery costs and improving service levels compared to traditional routing methods. This study highlights the potential of integrating advanced transportation modes to enhance logistics operations, offering significant benefits for industries reliant on timely and cost-effective deliveries.