Issue: № 12, 2025
Doi: https://doi.org/10.37634/efp.2025.12.7
The paper aims to confirm the high demand for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in urban logistics, highlighting the essence and composition of and the potential to reduce delivery costs and improve urban sustainability, emphasizing the growing importance of last-mile logistics. The practical significance of the research results lies in assessing external and internal costs, which provides a comprehensive and responsible approach to planning and organizing urban transportation of small loads, which are the object of last-mile logistics. The basic parameters of both transport options were determined, including technical characteristics, route structure and duration, and direct internal costs (wages, depreciation, fuel/electricity, repair and maintenance, other operating costs) and external costs (road accidents, air pollution, climate change impact, noise, congestion) are calculated. The calculation model is based on a two-dimensional approach to cost analysis, which makes it possible the assessment of the economic, social and environmental impact of delivery. The calculation result shows the advantages of using systems of unmanned aerial vehicles for delivery compared to cars. It shows that introducing a drone into operation can be an affordable delivery method, especially considering internal and external costs. The calculation algorithm is a valuable tool for planning and improving the "last mile" delivery processes, particularly for solving the difficulties of optimizing costs, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring sustainable development and quality of services, considering various aspects affecting the economy, society, and the environment. The work results are proposed to be considered when planning policies and incentives to support new challenges in urban delivery, as well as for the formation of policies and incentives aimed at the implementation of environmentally friendly transportation technologies.
Keywords : unmanned Aerial Vehicle, drone, city logistics, last-mile delivery, parcel delivery, direct (internal) transport costs, external transport costs
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