{"id":162,"date":"2019-07-24T11:13:58","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T11:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/logistics-manufacturing\/?p=162"},"modified":"2019-07-24T11:13:59","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T11:13:59","slug":"are-we-ready-for-autonomous-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/logistics-manufacturing\/are-we-ready-for-autonomous-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"Are we ready for autonomous vehicles?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>PARC Insight by Dr Emrah Demir, Senior Lecturer in Management Science<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The introduction of autonomous vehicles for the\ntransportation of goods represents a major step forward environmentally,\nsocially and economically. Autonomous vehicles reduce emissions and air\npollutants, protecting the environment and improving people\u2019s lives.&nbsp; Socially, these vehicles support the sharing\neconomy and contribute to advancing the sustainable development agenda.\nFinally, autonomous vehicles also improve the planning of transportation\nactivities, making road transportation more efficient and economical. However,\nthe UK road network was designed for independent drivers and there are many\nfinancial, technical and legislative challenges to overcome before driverless\nvehicles will be a reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fluctuating customer preferences and innovative\nlogistics concepts have already led to smaller batch sizes, higher transport\nvolumes and shorter delivery times.&nbsp;\nThese improvements have resulted in new challenges for transport\noperations. Road transportation is gaining importance due to its high\nflexibility and adaptability. However, increasing road traffic negatively impacts\nthe environment and increases the risk of disruptions, reducing the reliability\nof road. The future of transportation will be seamless mobility where all\nmodes and vehicles are fully connected and integrated into a single network of\ninformation exchange. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What is\nplatooning?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platooning\nis the linking of two or more trucks together to create a train, enabled by the\nInternet of Things (IoT) and automated driving support systems. Truck platoons are\neffectively \u201croad trains\u201d; instead of railway tracks and signals, these trains are\nconnected through an advanced communication and sensor network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My research funded by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (<a href=\"https:\/\/ciltuk.org.uk\/\">CILT<\/a>) in the UK has helped me to develop a mathematical programming formulation and a simulation model for a potential use of truck platooning. The results of this research highlight that the truck platooning is of value to both academics and practitioners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Truck\nplatooning is especially relevant and has a great potential to be implemented\nby several industries. One possible application of platooning technology is to\nfocus on repositioning of vehicles within the network. This is especially\nimportant since there is a high uncertainty with regards to transport demand.\nPlatooning could be an alternative solution to move physical assets in the\nnetwork and respond the demand the fastest way possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Integrated\nautonomous vehicles can transform the transportation system to make it safer,\ngreener and cheaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Benefits of platooning:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Truck\nplatooning technology can be used to control the position of all the vehicles\nin the platoon, permitting the group to operate extremely closely, thereby\nreducing wind resistance and decreasing fuel consumption.&nbsp; The platoon can also operate more smoothly,\nwith less braking and accelerating, which has the potential to reduce CO<sub>2<\/sub>\nemissions. Platooning also reduces congestion by improving traffic flows and\nreducing tailbacks.&nbsp; Overall, this leads\nto fuel consumption improvements in the entire platoon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A\nreduction in overall fuel consumption due to the above will have the added\nbenefit of reducing the cost of deliveries, which currently stands at 30% of\nthe total operating costs of a truck. Lower congestion, substantially shorter\ncommutes during peak periods, and efficient repositioning of vehicles\ncontainers in the transport network will also benefit the transport service\nprovider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platooning\nalso offers the possibility of improving the reliability of transportation. Platoons\ntherefore have the potential to enhance the efficiency of logistics operations\nand optimise the labour market, introducing a safer, more efficient flow of\nfreight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platooning\nenables the supply network to be optimised from a higher perspective and allowing\nfor more predictive driving of trucks on the road (i.e., proactive vehicle\nmaintenance). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Future Platooning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The\npractice of truck platooning will grow dramatically over the next decade, but\ngovernmental and business participation is still limited, and the effectiveness\nof the system remains unexplored. European Union countries are leading the\nefforts of achieving truck platooning in the near future, with trials ongoing,\nparticularly in the Netherlands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/platooningensemble.eu\/\">Truck Platooning\nVision<\/a> by the European Union highlights the following results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Truck platooning technology can already enable\nlarge-scale cross-border trials.<\/li><li>Since 2016 and till 2025, the scale of platooning\nwill increase until all European motorways and main roads will be used by truck\nplatoons.<\/li><li>Although platooning will initially be possible\nonly between trucks from the same manufacturer, it will not be long until we\nsee integrated platoons of many different makes and models. <\/li><li>The number of trucks per platoon will\nincrease.<\/li><li>The gap distance between vehicles will reduce,\nfurther improving the fuel consumption.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By 2025,\ntruck platooning will be a regular phenomenon on European motorways. So why is the UK not preparing for this technology?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compared to other European countries (for example, the\nNetherlands), the United Kingdom has been slow to react to this technology.\nDespite the UK government\u2019s ambition to see fully self-driving vehicles,\nwithout a human operator, on road by 2021, limited progress has been achieved\nso far.&nbsp; The UK government needs to\nprovide a clear agenda, beginning with trials following fixed routes in\ndedicated lanes to fully automated, multi-vehicles platoons in real-life\ntraffic environment. The current UK road network is an obvious challenge, but a\nchallenge that could definitely be overcome through investment in technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I really hope\nthat the United Kingdom will also be part of this technological transformation\nand take advantage of all the potential benefits. There is currently no\nlegislation governing autonomous vehicles on UK roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an\nambitious researcher, I would like to see more concrete developments supported\nby all stakeholders of transportation to see such technological advances on\nroads. At the very least, truck platooning could be a viable option for\nimproving our transportation networks, and we need to see more emphasis and\nsupport from government, industry and academia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Emrah Demir, Logistics &amp; Operations Management Section, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom,<\/em> <a href=\"mailto:demire@cardiff.ac.uk\">demire@cardiff.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The introduction of autonomous vehicles for the transportation of goods represents a major step forward environmentally, socially and economically. 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