DronStore is the name of this project that develops a navigation system responsible for localization, control, and path planning, enabling the drone to fly autonomously without the need for a pilot. This is an innovative collaborative initiative involving six entities: Logistic Inventory Services, Dronomy, Alter Technology, Stimulo, IOVI, and secpho as the coordinator. Additionally, it has the collaboration of PCAMI (Park and Supply Centre of Army Material Intendancy), one of the main logistic supply centers in our country. It is a project that has benefited from the Next Generation EU funds channelled through the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism as part of the support program for Innovative Business Associations.
When we talk about the use of drones in logistics management, the first association that comes to mind is delivery vehicles. However, there is currently a need for them to perform inventory management functions, and we are already starting to see initial applications in the prototype phase. The idea for the future is that drones can perform all kinds of tasks, such as inspecting high areas, locating items, and more. These applications, if successfully developed, have direct advantages for the industry, such as reduced lead times, task automation, cost reduction, and improved security. However, there are also certain barriers to entry or difficulties that arise in their installation and use, such as strict and inconsistent regulations, high costs, limited autonomy, and limitations due to the immaturity of some necessary technologies.
The DronStore industrial research project focuses on these last two limitations and aims to develop an autonomous navigation prototype for incident monitoring in logistic warehouses. The success of this project will help position the Spanish industry as a reference in this field. Thus, the project poses the challenge of using different technologies applied in a pilot drone solution with the goal of implementing a fleet of these drones in a new logistics base in Córdoba in the future. The key points for improving and automating logistics in this center are security and maintenance through warehouse element inspection, sensitization for temperature control in ration storage, and stock control (coding and inventory).
Therefore, for the development of a drone capable of fulfilling the defined objectives, there are various technological challenges, including autonomous navigation, inspection systems, and information management system. The proposed navigation system will be responsible for localization, control, and path planning, allowing the drone to fly autonomously without the need for a pilot and thus automate the process.