Multi-stop route optimisation for drone-based delivery of medicines
- SO1. To develop and integrate a multi-stop route optimisation algorithm for the efficient delivery of medicine using drones.
- SO2. To demonstrate the route optimisation through the implementation of a drone-based multi-stop delivery pilot
- SO3. To assess the technoeconomic viability and market opportunities of the multi-stop drone-based delivery service
Challenges and how they will be addressed
The main business challenge addressed by this project is the inefficient distribution of medicines under hospital control prescription to chronically ill patients. Currently, residents of rural areas face significant barriers to access medications for chronic illnesses, as they are only supplied from referral hospitals mainly located in major cities. As a result, patients must travel long distances to hospitals, resulting in increased waiting times for access to medication, higher costs for users and lower quality of life for rural patients.
Tech components and data
The technology to be used in OPTIVERY entails (1) a multi-stop route optimization algorithm, and (2) DroneSuite, a cloud platform solution for the efficient management of drone operations.
For OPTIVERY, a heuristic-based evolutionary algorithm with random search was chosen due to its ability to balance performance and practicality effectively. This decision was driven by the complexity of managing multiple drones, variable weather conditions, and diverse operational constraints, which can render traditional optimization algorithms inefficient or inadequate due to their potentially impractical demands on computational resources and time.
Expected outcomes
OPTIVERY´s algorithm will generate routes that are optimised for time, energy, and to serve the highest number of health centres in one trip. The input for the algorithm will be composed of variables such as drone fleet and its characteristics, weather data, distance, payload capacity, autonomy, priority, or drone zone restrictions. As output, the algorithm will provide information about the best route in terms of time and way points, and best route in terms of energy efficiency.
| Full name | Fundación Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia |
| Country | Spain |
| Website | https://itg.es/en/ |
| Contact Persons | Carlos Calvo Orosa, Jorge Seoane Brandariz |
| Contact’s email | , |
The Fundación Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia was established in February 1991, declared of Galician interest by the Xunta de Galicia (No. 1991/6) and registered in 2012 with No. 115 in the Register of Technology Centres of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Government of Spain. In addition, ITG is certified in its quality management system (UNE-EN ISO 9001, ER-0296/2008) and R+D+i (IDI-0029/2008, UNE 166002), and accredited by ENAC for the certification of people (UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17024, 13/C-PE019). Besides, ITG is a reference centre for Cervera technologies in UAVs (IMOV3D Project), energy (HYSGRID Project), Artificial Intelligence (CEL Project. AI) and quantum computing (ARQA Project), and additionally ITG is the National Operator of the Breeam Certification scheme for Spain. In addition, it is a WELL® training center in Spain, being the only organization recognized by IWBI ® for WELL ® training and the expansion of its knowledge in Spain.
ITG has a workforce of more than 130 workers covering different disciplines, such as computer engineering, industrial engineering, telecommunications engineering, architecture, economics, sociology, law, chemistry, biology. Its lines of research are organised into five thematic divisions: sensors and telecommunications, autonomous aerial vehicles, energy efficiency, digital water and sustainable construction.
The primary purpose of ITG is to contribute effectively to technological progress in all its manifestations; specifically, to contribute effectively to the generation of technological knowledge and its application for the development and strengthening of the competitive capacity of companies, professionals and organizations, covering, but not limited to, activities corresponding to research, technology development, training of technicians, dissemination of technological advances and the provision of services to the Public Administration and the private sectors of industry, trade and services and, in general.
ITG provides expertise in the design, development and implementation of complex ICT-based technology (software and hardware) for the monitoring and control of processes and infrastructures (mainly energy and water grids, buildings). Its main fields of activity are: Sensing and Telecommunication, Software Engineering, Energy Efficiency, Water Technologies and Construction Technologies. The center includes a research unit on Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) and Air Mobility
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