Table 6 Summary of respondents’ point of view on UGVs
| Â | A | B | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Potential applications | Bulk deliveries of food and materials, continuous automated replenishment | Synced dispatch and delivery system, easier convoys and platooning possibilities | Useable in flat terrains, transportation within the countries. | Within a country where road infrastructure is available, they can be an advantage over traditional vehicles | Can be used for within-country logistics and transport, instant dispatch and delivery | More straightforward formulation of convoys, bulk deliveries of supplies |
Foreseeable advantages | Less reliance on human resource, avoid driving restrictions, quicker deliveries | Efficient delivery of supplies, no driving restrictions, environment-friendly, seamless transportation across countries for instance in EU | Sustainable transportation, it can mitigate the problem of vehicles and drivers shortage | Continuous deliveries, live tracking of goods and vehicles, less CO2 emissions | Less dependence on drivers, frequent deliveries can help mitigate limited capacities and vehicles problem | No need of drivers, cost-saving, environment-friendly transport, real-time tracking of vehicles and video surveillance |
Foreseeable challenges | Acceptability among the people is a bigger challenge than technology, repair & maintenance during field operations, insurance | Acceptability, vulnerable to hack (system security), the safety of the goods in transit | Public acceptance, driving in difficult terrains, crossing borderers, legal issues, cost, vandalism, road blockages, security issues | Legal issues, cost of maintenance, cyber security and on-road risk of looting, civil acceptance | Security risks, misuse of vehicles if hacked, acceptance among people, road safety, driving in difficult terrain | Attack on vehicles with supplies, navigation in difficult terrain or bad weather, maintenance, legal issues, public acceptance |
Expected maturity timeline | 2025 | 2030 | 2025 | 2035 | 2030 | 2035 |
Would your org. Use UGVs in the future? | Yes, we will embrace this new form of mobility. | Yes, we might use them but surely not in the early stages. | Yes we are eager to use technology to support relief operations | Yes, we might use UGVs but can not say for sure when. | Yes, we will adopt UGVs if they are regulated in Pakistan and other countries of operations. | Yes, we can use them once they are available and tested for their fitness in the humanitarian setup. |