Two-Stage Delivery System for Last Mile Logistics in Rural Areas: Truck–Drone Approach

In rural areas of China, the challenges of efficient and cost-effective distribution are exacerbated by underdeveloped infrastructure and low population density, with last mile logistics distribution posing a significant obstacle. To address the gap in drone application for last mile logistics in rural areas, a truck–drone distribution model was developed based on the specific conditions of rural regions. The improved fuzzy C-means algorithm (FCM) and genetic simulated annealing algorithm (GASA) were employed to tackle real−world cases in rural areas. The focus of the truck–drone system is to optimize the rural logistics distribution process, reduce delivery time, and minimize costs while considering factors such as maximum mileage of trucks and drones as well as customer priority. Compared to traditional methods, this system has demonstrated notable improvements in distribution efficiency and cost reduction, offering valuable insights for practical drone applications in last mile rural logistics.