Project number: PSR-19-20

Funding source: US DOT

Contract number: 69A3551747109

Funding amount: $96,793

Performance period: 1/1/2020 to 12/31/2020

Project description

This project has combined tools from geospatial analysis, mathematical optimization theory, and computational geometry to study a routing paradigm that we call sidekick routing. A sidekick routing scheme is a logistical framework in which a large vehicle, such as a truck or van, serves as a mobile base for a fleet of small vehicles (the "sidekicks"), such as autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Systems of this kind have significant potential to simultaneously reduce vehicle miles travelled (VMT) - because the sidekicks are not restricted to streets - and to improve accessibility to goods, because the so-called "last mile" cost of transporting those goods is reduced.

The sidekick paradigm has very recently seen use in many public and private sector organizations, both in California and elsewhere. However, although the requisite physical technology is reasonably mature, the requisite management technology (i.e. systems for determining efficient routing strategies) are relatively nascent. Moreover, the extent to which such services can provide a societal benefit are not yet understood, although the results from this report indicate that the potential is very high.