Can the Physical Internet pave the way to a Mobility of Entities?
Author(s)
Stein, Sandra
Prandtstetter, Matthias
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Abstract
Despite using the same infrastructure, passenger and goods transport are typically perceived as distinct systems and are managed, analyzed, and considered separated from each other, particularly in urban areas. Hence, one of the key approaches of a more efficient and sustainable transportation system is the integration of freight and passenger transport.
In future, the network of mobility systems will be able to orchestrate itself. The IoT network will allow a seamless connection between various transport-related IoT-devices, transport modes, transport means, infrastructure, flows, and information. Assuming this and considering the principles of the Physical Internet (PI) of “physical, digital and operational interconnectivity through encapsulation, interfaces and protocols” (cf. Montreuil et al. 2013), it should not matter if encapsulated goods, or encapsulated passengers are moving. Passenger and freight transport could be orchestrated synergistically if technology was ready and used for a holistic optimization of the system. The concept of the PI could be transferred to individual mobility, and thus evolve to a “Mobility of Entities”. Entities are, in that case, understood as objects, or modules, that either move goods or passengers.
Our vision assumes that passengers and goods are encapsulated and move within the same transport system. The capsule, the “PI-box” is, in that case, an autonomous transport module, or unit. Each unit can join and detach with other units – together, they function as a swarm of vehicles. In such units, either passengers or goods can be transported. Hence, the units have physical and digital interfaces, and protocols.
This Paper aims at introducing the vision of a “Mobility of Entities” via modular transport units - an integrated freight and passenger transport system.
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Date
2023-06
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Text
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Paper