Multifunctional lightweight autonomous vehicles: an agent-based study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Multifunctional lightweight autonomous vehicles: an agent-based study Naroa Coretti Sanchez, Kent Larson This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4004493/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Nov, 2024 Read the published version in Transportation → Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In mobility-on-demand services, the number of vehicles needed is often determined by peak demand during rush hours, leading to prolonged vehicle idle times during off-peak periods. This surplus capacity presents an opportunity for vehicles to perform additional tasks, potentially enhancing system efficiency and reducing the overall number of vehicles needed in cities. Leveraging agent-based modeling, we evaluate the effectiveness of vehicles catering to on-demand rides and food deliveries in two real-life scenarios: Cambridge, MA, USA, and San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain. The results show that multifunctional behavior can lead to reduced fleet sizes, with context-specific exceptions. Additionally, a strategic dispatching algorithm is introduced that demonstrates reductions in waiting times and overall distances traveled. This research contributes to the understanding of the performance of multifunctional fleets in diverse urban contexts, informing the development of sustainable and resource-efficient mobility systems. Shared Autonomous Vehicles Micro-mobility Agent Based Modeling Mobility On-Demand Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 Nov, 2024 Read the published version in Transportation → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Jul, 2024 Reviews received at journal 09 Jul, 2024 Reviews received at journal 12 Jun, 2024 Reviews received at journal 29 May, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 May, 2024 Reviews received at journal 06 May, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Apr, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Apr, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Apr, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Apr, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 01 Apr, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Mar, 2024 First submitted to journal 01 Mar, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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