The adoption of self-driving delivery robots in last mile logistics

Cheng Chen; Emrah Demir; Yuan Huang; Rongzu Qiu

doi:10.1016/j.tre.2020.102214

The adoption of self-driving delivery robots in last mile logistics

Cheng Chen
, Emrah Demir
, Yuan Huang
, Rongzu Qiu

Management Science & Engineering

Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Cardiff Business School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

222 Scopus citations

Abstract

Covid-19, the global pandemic, has taught us the importance of contactless delivery service and robotic automation. Using self-driving delivery robots can provide flexibility for on-time deliveries and help better protect both driver and customers by minimizing contact. To this end, this paper introduces a new vehicle routing problem with time windows and delivery robots (VRPTWDR). With the help of delivery robots, considerable operational time savings can be achieved by dispatching robots to serve nearby customers while a driver is also serving a customer. We provide a mathematical model for the VRPTWDR and investigate the challenges and benefits of using delivery robots as assistants for city logistics. A two-stage matheurisitic algorithm is developed to solve medium scale VRPTWDR instances. Finally, results of computational experiments demonstrate the value of self-driving delivery robots in urban areas by highlighting operational limitations on route planning.

Original language	British English
Article number	102214
Journal	Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
Volume	146
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102214
State	Published - Feb 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords

City logistics
Contactless delivery
Matheuristic algorithm
Self-driving delivery robot
Vehicle routing problem

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10.1016/j.tre.2020.102214

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Cite this

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title = "The adoption of self-driving delivery robots in last mile logistics",

abstract = "Covid-19, the global pandemic, has taught us the importance of contactless delivery service and robotic automation. Using self-driving delivery robots can provide flexibility for on-time deliveries and help better protect both driver and customers by minimizing contact. To this end, this paper introduces a new vehicle routing problem with time windows and delivery robots (VRPTWDR). With the help of delivery robots, considerable operational time savings can be achieved by dispatching robots to serve nearby customers while a driver is also serving a customer. We provide a mathematical model for the VRPTWDR and investigate the challenges and benefits of using delivery robots as assistants for city logistics. A two-stage matheurisitic algorithm is developed to solve medium scale VRPTWDR instances. Finally, results of computational experiments demonstrate the value of self-driving delivery robots in urban areas by highlighting operational limitations on route planning.",

keywords = "City logistics, Contactless delivery, Matheuristic algorithm, Self-driving delivery robot, Vehicle routing problem",

author = "Cheng Chen and Emrah Demir and Yuan Huang and Rongzu Qiu",

note = "Funding Information: The authors acknowledge funding provided by Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University and Cardiff University. This research was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (2017J01788), Social Science Foundation of Fujian Province (FJ2019B093), and scholarship under the Education Department of Fujian Province. We thank reviewers for their helpful suggestions and comments. Overall, the research and manuscript have benefitted from the resulting changes. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd",

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AU - Demir, Emrah

AU - Huang, Yuan

AU - Qiu, Rongzu

N1 - Funding Information: The authors acknowledge funding provided by Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University and Cardiff University. This research was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (2017J01788), Social Science Foundation of Fujian Province (FJ2019B093), and scholarship under the Education Department of Fujian Province. We thank reviewers for their helpful suggestions and comments. Overall, the research and manuscript have benefitted from the resulting changes. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

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AB - Covid-19, the global pandemic, has taught us the importance of contactless delivery service and robotic automation. Using self-driving delivery robots can provide flexibility for on-time deliveries and help better protect both driver and customers by minimizing contact. To this end, this paper introduces a new vehicle routing problem with time windows and delivery robots (VRPTWDR). With the help of delivery robots, considerable operational time savings can be achieved by dispatching robots to serve nearby customers while a driver is also serving a customer. We provide a mathematical model for the VRPTWDR and investigate the challenges and benefits of using delivery robots as assistants for city logistics. A two-stage matheurisitic algorithm is developed to solve medium scale VRPTWDR instances. Finally, results of computational experiments demonstrate the value of self-driving delivery robots in urban areas by highlighting operational limitations on route planning.

KW - City logistics

KW - Contactless delivery

KW - Matheuristic algorithm

KW - Self-driving delivery robot

KW - Vehicle routing problem

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ER -

The adoption of self-driving delivery robots in last mile logistics

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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