IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlogis/v9y2025i1p10-d1566281.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Autonomous Van and Robot Last-Mile Logistics Platform: A Reference Architecture and Proof of Concept Implementation

Author

Listed:
  • Marc Guerreiro Augusto

    (Chair of Agent Technology, DAI-Labor, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Julian Maas

    (Chair of Logistics, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Martin Kosch

    (Chair of Logistics, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Manuel Henke

    (GT-ARC gGmbH, TU Berlin Institute, 10587 Berlin, Germany)

  • Tobias Küster

    (GT-ARC gGmbH, TU Berlin Institute, 10587 Berlin, Germany)

  • Frank Straube

    (Chair of Logistics, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Sahin Albayrak

    (Chair of Agent Technology, DAI-Labor, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
    GT-ARC gGmbH, TU Berlin Institute, 10587 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Background : With urban logistics facing challenges such as high delivery volumes and driver shortages, autonomous driving emerges as a promising solution. However, the integration of autonomous vans and robots into existing fulfillment processes and platforms remains largely unexplored. Method : This paper addresses this gap by developing and piloting a comprehensive blueprint architecture tailored for autonomous mobility in urban last-mile delivery. The proposed framework integrates autonomous vehicle operations, data processing, and stakeholder collaboration. Results : Through initial implementation and piloting, we demonstrate the practical applicability and advantages of this architecture. Conclusions : This study contributes to the understanding of essential data, services, and tools, providing a valuable guideline for Logistics Service Providers aiming to implement autonomous last-mile delivery solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Guerreiro Augusto & Julian Maas & Martin Kosch & Manuel Henke & Tobias Küster & Frank Straube & Sahin Albayrak, 2025. "Autonomous Van and Robot Last-Mile Logistics Platform: A Reference Architecture and Proof of Concept Implementation," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:9:y:2025:i:1:p:10-:d:1566281
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/9/1/10/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/9/1/10/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Olsson & Daniel Hellström & Henrik Pålsson, 2019. "Framework of Last Mile Logistics Research: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-25, December.
    2. Boysen, Nils & Schwerdfeger, Stefan & Weidinger, Felix, 2018. "Scheduling last-mile deliveries with truck-based autonomous robots," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 271(3), pages 1085-1099.
    3. Boysen, Nils & Schwerdfeger, Stefan & Weidinger, Felix, 2018. "Scheduling last-mile deliveries with truck-based autonomous robots," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 126189, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    4. Fang Li & Oliver Kunze, 2023. "A Comparative Review of Air Drones (UAVs) and Delivery Bots (SUGVs) for Automated Last Mile Home Delivery," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-32, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ostermeier, Manuel & Heimfarth, Andreas & Hübner, Alexander, 2023. "The multi-vehicle truck-and-robot routing problem for last-mile delivery," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 310(2), pages 680-697.
    2. Giulio Mangano & Giovanni Zenezini & Anna Corinna Cagliano, 2021. "Value Proposition for Sustainable Last-Mile Delivery. A Retailer Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Sergio Maria Patella & Gianluca Grazieschi & Valerio Gatta & Edoardo Marcucci & Stefano Carrese, 2020. "The Adoption of Green Vehicles in Last Mile Logistics: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-29, December.
    4. Bahram Alidaee & Haibo Wang & Lutfu S. Sua, 2023. "The Last-Mile Delivery of Heavy, Bulky, Oversized Products: Literature Review and Research Agenda," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Srinivas, Sharan & Ramachandiran, Surya & Rajendran, Suchithra, 2022. "Autonomous robot-driven deliveries: A review of recent developments and future directions," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    6. Bray, Garrett & Cebon, David, 2022. "Operational speed strategy opportunities for autonomous trucking on highways," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 75-94.
    7. Dumez, Dorian & Lehuédé, Fabien & Péton, Olivier, 2021. "A large neighborhood search approach to the vehicle routing problem with delivery options," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 103-132.
    8. Soares, Ricardo & Marques, Alexandra & Amorim, Pedro & Parragh, Sophie N., 2024. "Synchronisation in vehicle routing: Classification schema, modelling framework and literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 313(3), pages 817-840.
    9. Baldi, Mauro Maria & Manerba, Daniele & Perboli, Guido & Tadei, Roberto, 2019. "A Generalized Bin Packing Problem for parcel delivery in last-mile logistics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 274(3), pages 990-999.
    10. Liu, Dan & Kaisar, Evangelos I. & Yang, Yang & Yan, Pengyu, 2022. "Physical Internet-enabled E-grocery delivery Network:A load-dependent two-echelon vehicle routing problem with mixed vehicles," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    11. Chen, Cheng & Demir, Emrah & Huang, Yuan & Qiu, Rongzu, 2021. "The adoption of self-driving delivery robots in last mile logistics," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    12. Lemardelé, Clément & Estrada, Miquel & Pagès, Laia & Bachofner, Mónika, 2021. "Potentialities of drones and ground autonomous delivery devices for last-mile logistics," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    13. Garola, Giovanni & Seghezzi, Arianna & Siragusa, Chiara & Mangiaracina, Riccardo, 2022. "Sustainability in urban logistics: A literature review," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Kersten, Wolfgang & Jahn, Carlos & Blecker, Thorsten & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Changing Tides: The New Role of Resilience and Sustainability in Logistics and Supply Chain Management – Innovative Approaches for the Shift to a New , volume 33, pages 709-730, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    14. Büyüközkan, Gülçin & Ilıcak, Öykü, 2022. "Smart urban logistics: Literature review and future directions," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    15. Yu, Shaohua & Puchinger, Jakob & Sun, Shudong, 2022. "Van-based robot hybrid pickup and delivery routing problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 298(3), pages 894-914.
    16. Wanjie Hu & Jianjun Dong & Bon-gang Hwang & Rui Ren & Zhilong Chen, 2019. "A Scientometrics Review on City Logistics Literature: Research Trends, Advanced Theory and Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-27, May.
    17. Fabian Gnegel & Stefan Schaudt & Uwe Clausen & Armin Fügenschuh, 2024. "A Graph-Refinement Algorithm to Minimize Squared Delivery Delays Using Parcel Robots," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-27, October.
    18. Khayyam Masood & Matteo Zoppi & Vincent Fremont & Rezia M. Molfino, 2021. "From Drive-By-Wire to Autonomous Vehicle: Urban Freight Vehicle Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-21, January.
    19. Li, Hongqi & Chen, Jun & Wang, Feilong & Bai, Ming, 2021. "Ground-vehicle and unmanned-aerial-vehicle routing problems from two-echelon scheme perspective: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(3), pages 1078-1095.
    20. Gabrielli do Livramento Gonçalves & Walter Leal Filho & Samara da Silva Neiva & André Borchardt Deggau & Manoela de Oliveira Veras & Flávio Ceci & Maurício Andrade de Lima & José Baltazar Salgueirinho, 2021. "The Impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Smart and Sustainable Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:9:y:2025:i:1:p:10-:d:1566281. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.