STEERS - towardS inTelligEnt intER-hub-logiStics

An efficient and sustainable logistics process is essential for logistics companies to remain competitive and to manage the dynamic demands and service requirements. Specifically, the first- and last-mile hub-to-hub (inter) logistics is one of the most difficult operations to manage due to low volumes, repetitive operation and short-distance transport, and relatively high waiting times. With the advancements in Industry 4.0 technologies (Internet of Things, Big Data, Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence), the consortium partners expect that the intelligent and connected technology is a viable solution to improve operational efficiency, coordination, and sustainability of this inter-hub logistics. Despite the promising potential, the impact of technology on inter- and intra-hub (inside hub) logistics operations (such as transportation, communication, and planning) is not well-established.
The focus of STEERS is to explore the real-life challenges associated with the logistics operation in a small-to-medium size logistics hub and investigate the potential of intelligent and connected technology to address such challenges. This project will investigate the requirements for the application of automated vehicles in inter-hub transportation and simultaneously explore the potential of intelligent inter-hub corridors. Additionally, inter-hub communications will also provide the opportunity to explore their potential impact on the planning and coordination of intra-hub activities, with an explicit focus on the changing role of human planners. It combines the knowledge of education and research institutes (Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen, The University of Twente and Hogeschool Rotterdam), logistics industry partners (Bolk Container Transport and Combi Terminal Twente) and public institutes (XL Business Park, Port of Twente and Regio Twente).
The insights obtained in this exploratory study will serve as a foundation for the follow-up RAAK-PRO project, in which real-world demonstrators will be developed and tested inside XL Business Park.

Eindrapportage

An efficient and cost-effective logistics process is essential for logistics companies to manage the changing
demands and service requirements and remain competitive. The first- and last-mile logistics operation is the
most difficult to manage due to low volumes, repetitive and short-distance transport, and relatively high
waiting times. Despite the promising potential of automated vehicles, their impact on logistic processes is
not well established. The consortium believes that such vehicles, together with intelligent and connected
hubs, can significantly increase the efficiency of (especially first- and last-mile) logistics operations.
This project investigated the requirements for applying automated vehicles in inter-hub transportation and
simultaneously explored the potential impact of inter-hub communications on the planning and coordination
of intra-hub activities, addressing (routine and new) challenges faced by human planners. The consortium
partners are the University of Twente, XL Business Park, Bolk Transport, Combi Terminal Twente, Port of
Twente, and Regio Twente.
During bachelor- and master student projects, the impact of Connected Automated Transport (CAT)
technology on the logistic supply chain is assessed. Summarizing some results: 1) information gaps in daily
routine; though nowadays solved by the humans, may lead to congestion using CAT, 2) state-of-the-art CAT
technology still challenge legal aspects, and 3) mixed traffic studies emerge challenges related to the
penetration of CAT in public traffic.
This project provides a multi-disciplinary and systematic approach for transitioning to automated inter-hub
transport (establishing the role of intelligent and connected systems), with an explicit focus on the changing
role of human planners and how intra-hub intelligent systems can support them. The insights obtained in this
project served as a foundation for a follow-up RAAK-PRO project SAVED, in which real-world demonstrators
might be developed and tested inside XL Business Park