Implementing Drone Technologies in the Logistics Industry: An Innovation-Focused Study on UAV Pilots

Abstract

The twenty-first century, often characterized as an era of rapid technological progression, has ushered in notable transformations across the business landscape, particularly within the field of logistics. As technological capabilities continue to advance, firms have increasingly directed their investments towards sophisticated logistics systems, contributing significantly to the expansion of international trade. Among the prominent technologies shaping this transformation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a key element of the broader digital shift. Widely recognized for their potential to enhance operational speed and reduce costs, UAVs are progressively being integrated into the strategic investment plans of numerous national and international companies. This study explores the relationship between the use of UAVs and logistics activities within the context of air transportation, drawing on the professional perceptions of licensed UAV operators. UAV utilization, as the independent variable, was assessed across the dimensions of Design, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Benefit, Performance Expectation, Safety and Job Relevance, while Logistics Effectiveness was identified as the dependent variable. Since the items related to Job Relevance loaded under the Design dimension during analysis, this dimension was removed from the model. The research sample comprised 301 UAV0–UAV1 pilots certified by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The findings demonstrate a positive relationship between UAV usage and logistics activities. In particular, the strongest relationship was observed between the Safety dimension of UAVs and the Logistics Effectiveness variable. The results indicate that UAV use within the logistics sector is generally perceived as safe, and existing operational procedures in the country are regarded as sufficient. Nevertheless, as UAV technologies continue to evolve, the necessity for ongoing enhancement of safety measures remains clear.

Keywords

• Drone technologies
• Unmanned aerial vehicles
• Logistics
• Air cargo

Lojistik Sektöründe Drone Teknolojilerinin Uygulanması: İHA Pilotları Üzerine İnovasyon Odaklı Bir Çalışma

Öz

Hızlı teknolojik ilerlemenin yaşandığı bir dönem olarak nitelendirilen yirmi birinci yüzyıl, iş dünyasında, özellikle lojistik alanında önemli dönüşümler getirmiştir. Teknolojik imkanlar gelişmeye devam ettikçe, şirketler yatırımlarını giderek daha sofistike lojistik sistemlerine yöneltmiş ve uluslararası ticaretin genişlemesine önemli katkıda bulunmuştur. Bu dönüşümü şekillendiren öne çıkan teknolojiler arasında, insansız hava araçları (İHA’lar) daha geniş kapsamlı dijital dönüşümün önemli bir unsuru olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Operasyonel hızı artırma ve maliyetleri düşürme potansiyeli ile yaygın olarak tanınan İHA’lar, giderek birçok ulusal ve uluslararası şirketin stratejik yatırım planlarına entegre edilmektedir. Bu çalışma, lisanslı İHA operatörlerinin profesyonel algılarına dayanarak, hava taşımacılığı bağlamında İHA kullanımı ile lojistik faaliyetleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Bağımsız değişken olarak İHA kullanımı, Tasarım, Algılanan Kullanım Kolaylığı, Algılanan Fayda, Performans Beklentisi, Güvenlik ve İşle İlgili Olma boyutları üzerinden değerlendirilirken, bağımlı değişken olarak Lojistik Etkinlik belirlenmiştir. Analiz sırasında İşle İlgili Olma ile ilgili öğeler Tasarım boyutuna yüklendiğinden, bu boyut modelden çıkarılmıştır. Araştırma örneği, Türkiye Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü tarafından sertifikalandırılmış 301 İHA0-İHA1 pilotundan oluşmuştur. Bulgular, İHA kullanımı ile lojistik faaliyetleri arasında pozitif bir ilişki olduğunu göstermektedir. Özellikle, İHA’ların Güvenlik boyutu ile Lojistik Etkinlik değişkeni arasında en güçlü ilişki gözlemlenmiştir. Sonuçlar, lojistik sektöründe İHA kullanımının genel olarak güvenli olarak algılandığını ve ülkedeki mevcut operasyonel prosedürlerin yeterli görüldüğünü göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, İHA teknolojileri gelişmeye devam ettikçe, güvenlik önlemlerinin sürekli olarak iyileştirilmesi gerekliliği açıkça ortadadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Drone teknolojileri
• İnsansız hava araçları
• Lojistik
• Hava kargo

Kaynakça

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