Multi-depot Routing Problem with Van-based Driverless Vehicles

Abstract In order to strengthen the coordination between different delivery participants and between different means of transport, this work proposes one extension of multi-depot routing problems where vans and driverless vehicles are used in combination during the delivery. The operation process mainly includes two parts. One is that, vans carry several driverless vehicles and goods, and drop off or pick up driverless vehicles at stops. Another is that, driverless vehicles departing directly from depots or dropped off by vans deliver goods for customers. During the delivery process, vans and driverless vehicles are in close cooperation through the proposed multi-depot joint distribution and the proposed van-van joint distribution. By the two modes, vans can depart from one depot and return to another depot, driverless vehicles can be dropped off by one van at one stop and be picked up by another van at another stop. This multi-depot routing problem with van-based driverless vehicles is formulated as a mixed integer programming model which can be solved by the designed heuristic algorithm. The sensitivity analyses about the capacity of vans for driverless vehicle and the maximum traveling time of driverless vehicles are also performed. The results reveal that they have limited effects on the delivery cost and the application of the two modes. Moreover, the experimental results demonstrate that the application of two modes is affected by the distribution of depots and stops.