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Review

A Comprehensive Review of Building the Resilience of Low-Altitude Logistics: Key Issues, Challenges, and Strategies

School of Automobile, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
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Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010461
Submission received: 26 November 2025 / Revised: 21 December 2025 / Accepted: 27 December 2025 / Published: 2 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)

Abstract

Low-altitude logistics (LAL), supported by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and emerging urban air mobility operations within the low-altitude airspace (typically <1000 m), is rapidly reshaping last-mile distribution and time-critical delivery. However, LAL systems remain vulnerable to compound disruptions spanning weather, infrastructure, governance, and cybersecurity. Using a PRISMA-guided protocol, this systematic review synthesizes 1600 peer-reviewed studies published from 2020 to 2025 and combines bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer) with qualitative content analysis to consolidate the knowledge base on low-altitude logistics resilience (LALR). We conceptualize LALR via four coupled pillars, including robustness, adaptability, recoverability, and redundancy. The synthesize evidence across key vulnerability domains consists of platform reliability, communication and infrastructure readiness, regulatory fragmentation, cyber exposure, and weather-driven operational uncertainty. Building on the synthesis, we propose a Technology–Policy–Ecosystem roadmap that links (i) AI-enabled autonomy and risk-aware planning, (ii) adaptive governance tools such as regulatory sandboxes and dynamic airspace/UTM management, and (iii) ecosystem-level interventions, notably public–private partnerships and equity-oriented service design for underserved areas. We further outline a research agenda centered on measurable resilience metrics, activate redundancy design, climate-adaptive UAV operations, and digital-twin-enabled orchestration for scalable and sustainable LAL ecosystems.
Keywords: low-altitude logistics (LAL); unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); logistics resilience network; route planning; logistics scheduling; drones low-altitude logistics (LAL); unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); logistics resilience network; route planning; logistics scheduling; drones

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MDPI and ACS Style

Yang, J.; Xu, H. A Comprehensive Review of Building the Resilience of Low-Altitude Logistics: Key Issues, Challenges, and Strategies. Sustainability 2026, 18, 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010461

AMA Style

Yang J, Xu H. A Comprehensive Review of Building the Resilience of Low-Altitude Logistics: Key Issues, Challenges, and Strategies. Sustainability. 2026; 18(1):461. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010461

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang, Jingshuai, and Haofeng Xu. 2026. "A Comprehensive Review of Building the Resilience of Low-Altitude Logistics: Key Issues, Challenges, and Strategies" Sustainability 18, no. 1: 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010461

APA Style

Yang, J., & Xu, H. (2026). A Comprehensive Review of Building the Resilience of Low-Altitude Logistics: Key Issues, Challenges, and Strategies. Sustainability, 18(1), 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010461

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