by Walther Ploos van Amstel
Unlike autonomous car applications, the operational area of urban service autonomous robots like autonomous delivery robots (ADRs) is not clearly defined. Moreover, assessing the feasibility of various operating scenarios is difficult due to large variations in the different robot designs, specific local infrastructure, and regulations. A new paper presents a prototype evaluation methodology based on …
Do autonomous delivery robots deliver? Road autonomous mobile robots have attracted the attention of delivery companies and policy makers owing to their potential to reduce costs and increase urban freight efficiency. Established delivery companies and new startups are investing in technologies that reduce delivery times, increase delivery drivers’ productivity, or both. In this context, adopting …
THEO is a semi-autonomous, emission-free, bot-as-a-service trike optimized for bike lanes, maximizing functionality and safety. When bike lanes are unavailable, they are also swift, lightweight, and agile enough to run in conventional car lanes and travel around in a city without causing congestion. THEO will seamlessly integrate with the backend of on-demand delivery providers, such …
A survey article by Mor Kaspi, Tal Raviv, and Marlin W. Ulmer provides an overview of future directions for research in urban mobility and city logistics. It sets a focus on three severe changes in the business models: Service fleets might fully or partially be autonomous in the future, which brings new operational opportunities and …
Autonomous deliveries are being tested on university campuses worldwide, but the impact of such technology on the business models of freight service providers is poorly understood. Through interviews, workshops, and site visits, a new paper by Jon Williamsson explores the potential impact of autonomous deliveries on the business model of a campus-based freight services provider …
The EU-funded Sohjoa, Last Mile project, has released a video and key messages to support the deployment and development of shared autonomous public transport services in Europe. The key messages include policy recommendations for the international, European, and national levels. Supported by the EU’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region program, the project seeks to raise awareness of …
Rising labor costs and the need to reduce social logistics cost is increasingly prominent in China. Profit margins in the logistics industry are not very high. Introducing autonomous delivery will improve the structure of the industry and margins in the long run. JD presents ‘lessons learned’ on the why, how, and when of autonomous delivery …
During recent years, several companies have introduced small autonomous delivery robots and evidenced their technical applicability in field studies. However, a holistic planning framework for routing and utilizing these robots is still lacking. Current literature focuses mainly on the logistical performance of delivery using autonomous robots, ignoring real-world limitations, and does not assess the respective …
Courier, express, and parcel (CEP) services represent one of the most challenging and dynamic sectors of the logistics industry. Companies in this sector must solve several challenges to keep up with the rapid changes in the market. In this context, the introduction of autonomous delivery using self-driving trucks might be an appropriate solution to overcome …
An innovative walking and cycle-based system for optimized deliveries in city centers was launched in Dublin. Operating out of micro hubs and combining powered e-Walkers and e-Quad cycles, this model allows for last-mile deliveries that don’t add to local emissions or congestion, enabling a change in the way goods are delivered in busy city locations.