Delivery Robot Selection using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Author

Druvitha H K MSc Student – University of Leeds

Project Overview

This project evaluates seven autonomous delivery robot prototypes using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach.

The goal is to recommend the most suitable robots for a delivery trial in Leeds based on two different business strategies.

The analysis applies weighted scoring models to evaluate robot performance across operational and technological criteria.

Technologies Used

• R Programming
• Data Visualization (ggplot2)
• Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)
• Data Normalization
• Business Decision Analytics

Dataset

The dataset contains performance metrics for seven robot prototypes across several operational criteria:

• Carrying Capacity
• Battery Size
• Speed
• Mobility
• Aesthetic Design
• Cost per Unit
• Reliability

Each robot is evaluated across these criteria to support strategic decision making.

Methodology

1. Data Understanding

Robot performance metrics and management priorities were analysed to understand key decision factors.

2. Data Preparation

All criteria were normalized to a 0–1 scale using Min-Max normalization to allow fair comparison across different measurement scales.

3. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

A Weighted Sum Model (WSM) was used to calculate performance scores for each robot prototype.

Business Plan 1 – Operating at Scale

Focus on operational efficiency with criteria weights such as:

• Carrying capacity
• Cost per unit
• Battery size
• Reliability

Business Plan 2 – Technology Licensing

Focus on intellectual property value using:

• Battery size
• Cost efficiency
• Reliability

4. Model Evaluation

Robots were ranked based on weighted scores under each strategic plan.

Key Results

Business Plan 1 (Operational Efficiency) Best robot: Gamma

Business Plan 2 (Technology Licensing) Best robot: Gamma, followed by Delta

The results show that Gamma provides a balanced performance across cost, reliability and battery capacity.

Business Recommendations

For the Leeds trial, the recommended robots are:

1. Gamma – Primary robot for both strategies
2. Delta – Secondary robot for technology-focused strategy

Testing both robots provides strategic insights for operational efficiency and intellectual property development.

Skills Demonstrated

• Decision analytics
• Multi-criteria modelling
• Data normalization
• Data visualization
• Strategic business analysis

License

MIT License