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

这一早期概念探索性研究拨款(AGIRE)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)的双向交通系统(AMVT-BM)的基本权衡，该系统通过一组模块化自动驾驶车辆(Pod)提供集成的公共交通和最后一英里物流服务，以及(2)评估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%)，导致座位容量过度浪费，每服务乘客英里的燃油经济性很差。新冠肺炎疫情更是加剧了这一问题，疫情高峰期曾导致全国公交乘客减少近80%。另一方面，疫情也加速了电子商务的快速普及，给最后一英里的送货带来了巨大的压力。与模块化相结合，将运输服务与最后一英里物流相结合的联合运输系统为更好地利用/共享车辆能力和辅助基础设施提供了一个有前途的解决方案。然而，这一想法的实施不仅需要技术上的突破，还需要一种系统的方法，超越运输业这两个高度孤立的部门的界限。在这项研究中，我们将关注两个最基本的问题：(1)协同模式和模块化对系统性能的影响是什么？以及(2)从交通机构、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？研究议程由两项任务组成，旨在寻求这些问题的答案。任务1通过分析和模拟研究了模块化和协同式的影响。任务2招募和调查潜在的利益攸关方，了解他们对与采用AMVT-BM有关的广泛问题的看法。该项目将创建一套优化工具，用于分析模块化的运输和最后一英里递送服务系统。它还将开发第一个此类模拟试验台，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的交付操作。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系统的技术、机构和财务潜力以及现实世界实施的障碍，这将有助于了解这些系统的设计和操作。该项目的发现将有助于确定关键的未来研究议程。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.