Global Research Trends in Autonomous Vehicles and Drone Applications in Logistics: A Bibliometric Analysis of Web of Science (1992–2025)

Abstract

Business models have experienced a profound transformation, catalyzed by the rapid digitalization of the economy and the advent of advanced technologies. In the logistics sector, integrating information-processing systems through digital platforms and adopting autonomous technologies are critical. This study examines a visual mapping method for assessing global research trends on autonomous vehicles and drone applications in logistics, analyzing publications from the WoS database covering the period from 1992 to 2025. This study employs bibliometric analysis to systematically examine the intellectual framework, conceptual evolution, and structures of social interaction within the designated research area. VOSviewer software was used to create and visualize the bibliometric maps. Among the significant findings, " Logistics" emerged as the most frequently used keyword. The researcher with the highest publication output was Tom Van Hensel. Elsevier was recognized as the leading publisher by publication volume, with Logistics as the top journal in this field. Furthermore, the findings show that Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG-11) is by far the most addressed goal, with 2,865 publications. The study provides a systematic overview of the global research landscape concerning the applications of autonomous vehicles and drones in logistics from a bibliometric perspective.