Figure 8
The figure is divided into two main horizontal sections separated by a solid black line. The upper section is labeled “Trucks and drones performing the delivery”, while the lower section is labeled “Only drones performing the delivery”. At the bottom of the figure, the legend explains six key symbols used throughout the figure. A plain circle is labeled “Launch point”, a gray circle is labeled “Delivery point”, and a dot-patterned circle with a mesh texture is labeled “Decoupling point”. The letter “N” in a gray box is labeled “Number of articles”. Two types of arrows are shown: a dashed arrow labeled “Drone path”, and a solid arrow labeled “Truck or aircraft path”. In the upper section, the first group on the left is enclosed within a large dashed rectangle labeled “One truck and multiple drones”, accompanied by an icon of one truck plus three drone icons. Inside this group, two configurations are placed side by side. The first configuration on the left is labeled “Synchronized” and marked “N equals 67”. A building icon serves as the “Launch point”. From the “Launch point”, a solid arrow extends rightward and points to the “Decoupling point”. From the “Decoupling point”, a solid right-pointing arrow arises and points to the “Delivery point”, with a truck icon shown along the arrow connecting the “Decoupling point” and “Delivery point”. From the same “Decoupling point”, two dashed arrows extend diagonally upward and point toward two “Delivery points” positioned side by side at the top. Adjacent to these “Delivery points”, two drone icons are shown, each carrying a small delivery box. From both of the top “Delivery points”, a dashed arrow extends backward toward the truck icon. The second configuration, placed within the “One truck and multiple drones” group, is labeled “A-synchronized” and marked “N equals 18”. It also shows a building icon that represents the “Launch point” on the left. From this “Launch point”, a solid arrow extends rightward and points to a “Delivery point”, with a truck icon shown along the arrow connecting the “Launch point” and “Delivery point”. From the “Launch point”, two dashed arrows branch out diagonally, each pointing toward a separate “Delivery point”. Each “Delivery point” has a drone icon shown adjacent to it. From these two “Delivery points”, a dashed arrow extends backward from each and points back to the “Launch point”. To the right of the dashed rectangle, another model is shown labeled “Multiple trucks and multiple drones” and marked “N equals 13”. This configuration displays two truck icons plus two drone icons. It includes a building icon that represents the “Launch point” in the center. From the “Launch point”, two solid arrows extend to the right and left, each pointing to a “Delivery point”, with a truck icon shown along the arrow connecting the “Launch point” and “Delivery point”. From the “Delivery point” on the left, a solid arrow extends downward and points to another “Delivery point”. From this “Delivery point”, a solid arrow arises and points back to the “Launch point”. From the “Delivery point” on the right, a solid arrow extends upward and points to another “Delivery point”. From this “Delivery point”, a solid arrow arises and points back to the “Launch point”. From the “Launch point”, two dashed arrows branch out diagonally, one upward and one downward, each pointing toward a separate “Delivery point”. Each “Delivery point” has a drone icon shown adjacent to it. From these two “Delivery points”, a dashed arrow extends backward from each and points back to the “Launch point”. In the lower section of the figure, titled “Only drones performing the delivery”, three drone-only configurations are presented side by side. The first configuration on the left is labeled “Multiple drones” and marked “N equals 167”, shown with an icon of three drones at the top. It shows a central “Launch point”. From this “Launch point”, four dashed arrows radiate outward in different directions toward four “Delivery points”. From these four “Delivery points”, a dashed arrow extends backward from each and points back to the “Launch point”. The middle configuration is labeled “Multiple trucks and multiple drones” and marked “N equals 10”. This configuration displays two truck icons plus two drone icons at the top. Inside, it shows a “Launch point” in the center. From the “Launch point”, two solid arrows extend rightward and leftward and point to a truck icon on each side, each having a “Decoupling point” symbol on it. From these truck icons, two dashed arrows branch out diagonally, one upward and one downward, each pointing toward a separate “Delivery point”. Each “Delivery point” has a drone icon shown adjacent to it. From these two “Delivery points”, a dashed arrow extends backward from each and points back to the truck icon, representing the “Decoupling point”. The final configuration on the right is labeled “Flying warehouse”, accompanied by an icon of an airship plus three drone icons, and marked “N equals 4”. A building icon serves as the “Launch point” positioned on the left. From the “Launch point”, a solid arrow extends upward and points to a large airship icon that represents the “Decoupling point”. From the airship, four dashed arrows extend downward and diagonally in various directions toward four “Delivery points”. Each “Delivery point” has a drone icon placed nearby, each carrying a small parcel. From these four “Delivery points”, a dashed arrow extends backward from each and points back to the airship icon, representing the “Decoupling point”.Drone applications in LMD