EAGER/Collaborative Research: An Autonomous Modular Vehicle Technology-based Multifaceted Mobility Service Paradigm – A Proof-of-Concept Study

这项早期概念探索性研究（EAGER）项目将支持一项概念验证研究，以：(1)了解基于自主模块化车辆技术（AMVT）的双模态系统（AMVT - bm）的基本权衡，该系统通过模块化自动驾驶车辆车队（pods）提供综合公共交通和最后一英里物流服务；(2)衡量潜在利益相关者对该技术的兴趣和反应。在美国，公共交通车辆的平均载客率很低（10.1% ~ 12.4%），导致了座位容量的过度浪费和每乘客每英里服务的燃油经济性差。COVID-19大流行严重加剧了这一问题，疫情高峰期导致全国公交客流量减少近80%。另一方面，电子商务的快速发展，也因疫情而加速，给最后一英里的配送带来了巨大压力。结合模块化，将运输服务与最后一英里物流相结合的共运系统为更好地利用/共享车辆容量和配套基础设施提供了一个有前景的解决方案。然而，这一理念的实施不仅需要技术上的突破，还需要一种超越交通运输行业中两个高度孤立的部门界限的系统方法。在本研究中，我们将关注两个最基本的问题：(1)共模性和模块化对系统性能的影响是什么？(2)从交通运输机构、城市规划者、物流公司、交通网络公司和汽车制造商等利益相关者的角度来看，协同潜力和采用挑战是什么？研究议程包括两个任务，旨在寻求这些问题的答案。任务1通过分析和模拟调查模块化和共模性的影响。任务2招募和调查潜在的利益相关者，了解他们对采用AMVT-BM的广泛问题的看法。该项目将创建一套优化工具，用于分析模块化运输和最后一英里交付服务系统。该公司还将开发首个此类模拟试验台，以指导AMVT-BM系统的设计和评估，该系统集成了运输和最后一英里交付操作。通过三个阶段的利益相关者调查，该项目将记录和分析AMVT-BM系统在技术、制度和财务方面的潜力，以及在现实世界中实施AMVT-BM系统的障碍，这将阐明这些系统的设计和操作。该项目的研究结果将有助于确定关键的未来研究议程。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) project will support a proof-of-concept study to (1) understand the fundamental trade-offs in Autonomous Modular Vehicle Technology (AMVT) based bi-modality system, or AMVT-BM, that provides integrated public transit and last-mile logistics services with a fleet of modular autonomous vehicles, or pods, and (2) gauge potential stakeholders’ interest and reaction to the technology. In the U.S., public transit vehicles have a very low average load factor (10.1% ~ 12.4%), resulting in excessive waste of seat capacity and poor fuel economy per passenger mile served. This problem is gravely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which at its peak had caused nearly 80% reduction in transit ridership nationwide. On the other hand, the rapid uptake of e-commerce, also accelerated by the pandemic, has put tremendous pressure on last-mile delivery. Coupled with modularity, a co-modality system that integrates transit services with last mile logistics offers a promising solution to better utilization/sharing of vehicle capacity and supporting infrastructure. Yet, the implementation of this idea requires not only technological breakthrough, but also a system approach that transcends the boundaries of the two highly siloed sectors in the transportation industry. In this study, we will focus on two most fundamental questions: (1) what are the impacts of co-modality and modularity on system performance? And (2) what are synergistic potential and adoption challenges from the perspective of stakeholders such as transit agencies, urban planners, logistics companies, transportation network companies, and auto makers? The research agenda consists of two tasks designed to seek answers to these questions. Task 1 investigates the impacts of modularity and co-modality via analysis and simulation. Task 2 recruits and surveys potential stakeholders for their views on a wide range of issues related to the adoption of AMVT-BM. The project will create a suite of optimization tools for analyzing modularized transit and last-mile delivery service systems. It will also develop the first of its kind simulation testbed to guide the design and evaluation of an AMVT-BM system that integrates transit and last-mile delivery operations. Through a three-phase stakeholder survey, the project will document and analyze technological, institutional, and financial potentials as well as barriers to the real-world implementation of AMVT-BM systems, which will shed light on the design and operation of these systems. The project findings will help identify critical future research agenda.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.