Published Paper Details:

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, has opened new frontiers in automation, particularly in inspection and delivery tasks. This project presents the design, development and deployment of a multi-functional drone system that utilizes AI for autonomous navigation, object detection, real-time decision-making and payload delivery. The drone was engineered with a modular architecture, combining a lightweight quadcopter frame with sensors, a high- definition camera and onboard computing units capable of running AI models. Through AI-driven capabilities such as computer vision and predictive analytics, the drone can perform infrastructure inspections identifying defects or anomalies and carry out precise delivery operations with minimal human intervention. Real-time flight data, environmental feedback, and GPS-based path planning ensure accurate and safe mission execution. The system was tested in various scenarios including urban delivery and structural surveillance, demonstrating its potential to improve operational efficiency, reduce risks and support applications in logistics, disaster response and industrial monitoring. This project reflects the growing impact of AI in making aerial robotics smarter, safer, and more scalable for real-world technical, regulatory and operational challenges.