Modelling and simulation of a new urban freight distribution system based on automatic van platooning and fixed split up locations

A new freight delivery system based on automated vans is presented. Vans travel in platoons, whose first vehicle is driven and the others are driverless, during large part of their delivery routes. Each platoon moves from the Urban Distribution Centre (UDC) to a dedicated location close to the city centre, where the platoon is split up. At the split up location, the driver gets off the first van and each van of the platoon, independently from the others, carries out the last part of its delivery route moving without any driver. Meanwhile, the driver moves to another split up location or to the UDC, where a driver is needed. After completing their deliveries, vans return to the same split up location and gather again in a platoon; a driver accesses the first vehicle, then the platoon returns to the UDC. A methodology to design the proposed transport system has been developed. The methodology comprises two routing algorithms to optimise: platoon routes from the UDC to split up locations; single van routes from split up locations to receivers and return; and a microsimulator to assess, heuristically, the number of vehicles needed to operate the system and the schedule of driver activities.