Vehicle-Drone Collaborative Delivery: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda
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Abstract
The rise of the low-altitude economy and advances in intelligent technologies have accelerated innovation in last-mile logistics, where Vehicle-Drone Collaborative Delivery (VDCD) has become a promising solution. We systematically review 3,300+ publications and apply VOSviewer-based bibliometric analysis to synthesize research on VDCD. A four-part analytical framework is developed, covering collaboration modes, optimization objectives, problem models, and solution algorithms. The results identify four paradigms of collaboration: synchronous vehicle-drone delivery, parallel delivery, vehicle-supported drone delivery, and drone-supported vehicle delivery. Research objectives have evolved from single goals such as minimizing cost or time toward multidimensional objectives, including service coverage, customer satisfaction, and carbon reduction. Three evolutionary paths in problem modeling are observed-basic formulations, constraint-extended models, and joint optimization models-reflecting growing complexity and cross-layer integration. Algorithmic approaches fall into three main streams: exact methods, heuristics, and metaheuristics, with emerging trends in hybridization, distributed mechanisms, and adaptive strategies. Finally, this paper outlines potential directions for optimizing VDCD systems through technological innovation, policy support, and scenario-specific design, providing valuable insights for future research and practical implementation.
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