Optimization of 3D Printing While Traveling En Route to Extend Range of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Multilocation Mission Scenarios

 
 

Optimizing en route 3D printing significantly reduces host vehicle travel distance and mission time for multi-location drone operations.

Additive manufacturing allows moving vehicles, such as delivery trucks, ships, or aircraft, to 3D print specialized drone components or entire Unmanned Aircraft Systems while traveling toward mission targets. Transporting basic drone models and custom-printing parts like extended wings en route expands the operational range of these aircraft without requiring bulky pre-fabricated inventories. Releasing these upgraded drones from greater distances reduces the total path length the host vehicle must travel across multi-location itineraries. Computational models based on geometric principles demonstrate that higher printing speeds relative to ground speeds yield dramatic drops in host vehicle travel requirements. Matching the manufacturing rate to the transit speed decreases total vehicle travel distance by up to 55 percent, conserving fuel and reducing travel time.

Integrating on-demand manufacturing into vehicle routing algorithms transforms traditional logistical planning for search and rescue, medical delivery, and defense operations. This approach balances payload constraints against mission duration by tailoring drone aerodynamics to real-time environmental demands rather than relying on rigid, pre-built designs. Beyond additive manufacturing, the underlying mathematical optimization framework applies to other mobile range-extension strategies, such as charging drone batteries during transit. Adapting equipment dynamically during journey legs establishes a new paradigm for efficient multi-point dispatch systems across diverse operational domains.

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APA (7th Edition)

Dickerson, T. J., Salmon, J. L., & Mattson, C. A. (2024). Optimization of 3D printing while traveling en route to extend range of unmanned aircraft systems for multilocation mission scenarios. Journal of Mechanical Design, 146(12), 121705. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4065745

MLA (9th Edition)

Dickerson, Tevin J., John L. Salmon, and Christopher A. Mattson. "Optimization of 3D Printing While Traveling En Route to Extend Range of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Multilocation Mission Scenarios." Journal of Mechanical Design, vol. 146, no. 12, 2024, p. 121705. ASME Digital Collection, https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4065745.

Chicago (17th Edition – Author-Date)

Dickerson, Tevin J., John L. Salmon, and Christopher A. Mattson. 2024. "Optimization of 3D Printing While Traveling En Route to Extend Range of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Multilocation Mission Scenarios." Journal of Mechanical Design 146 (12): 121705. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4065745.

Chicago (17th Edition – Notes & Bibliography)

Bibliography Entry: Dickerson, Tevin J., John L. Salmon, and Christopher A. Mattson. "Optimization of 3D Printing While Traveling En Route to Extend Range of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Multilocation Mission Scenarios." Journal of Mechanical Design 146, no. 12 (2024): 121705. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4065745.

Footnote / Endnote Format: Tevin J. Dickerson, John L. Salmon, and Christopher A. Mattson, "Optimization of 3D Printing While Traveling En Route to Extend Range of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Multilocation Mission Scenarios," Journal of Mechanical Design 146, no. 12 (2024): 121705, https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4065745.

IEEE

T. J. Dickerson, J. L. Salmon, and C. A. Mattson, "Optimization of 3D Printing While Traveling En Route to Extend Range of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Multilocation Mission Scenarios," J. Mech. Des., vol. 146, no. 12, p. 121705, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.1115/1.4065745.

BibTeX

Code snippet

@article{dickerson2024optimization,
  author    = {Dickerson, Tevin J. and Salmon, John L. and Mattson, Christopher A.},
  title     = {Optimization of 3D Printing While Traveling En Route to Extend Range of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Multilocation Mission Scenarios},
  journal   = {Journal of Mechanical Design},
  volume    = {146},
  number    = {12},
  pages     = {121705},
  year      = {2024},
  publisher = {American Society of Mechanical Engineers},
  doi       = {10.1115/1.4065745}
}