Last-centimetre Drone Delivery in Urban Environments

Principal Investigator:
Prof. HUANG Hailong, Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering

Drone flight in urban areas is challenging due to the unreliable and inaccurate Global Navigation Satellite System service. This innovation includes hardware and algorithms that enable drones to deliver parcels directly to apartment balconies using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), which does not require human intervention. The key features include:

• An advanced perception algorithm, enabling precise localisation for both drone and balcony, significantly enhancing landing accuracy.
• A LiDAR-based obstacle detection algorithm that does not rely on pre-training, making it versatile and adaptable to various scenarios.
• A robust control algorithm for stability and safety, enabling the drone to navigate with precision through disturbances such as wind.

This comprehensive solution integrates cutting-edge perception, obstacle detection and control technologies, enabling seamless parcel delivery and safe drone operation in complex urban environments.