Discrete events model for dual mode transport system simulation and evaluation

Full text also available at http://www.mech.kuleuven.be/MT-ITS2011/downloads/Abstracts/042,%20A.%20de%20La%20Fortelle%20et%20al.,%20Discrete%20Events%20Model%20for%20Dual%20Mode%20Transport%20System%20Simulation%20and%20Evaluation.pdfInternational audienceThe European project CATS --- City Alternative Transport System --- is developing and evaluating a new vehicle system using a single type of vehicle for two different usages: individual use or collective transport. Real experiments will necessarily take place with a limited number of vehicles and stations. Hence there is a need for evaluation using simulations. INRIA is developing a discrete events simulator for that purpose, based on a previous work done for collective taxis. We present in this paper the model we use for the CATS project. This model rely on an adapted events/decision graph that extends previous graphs. The new feature of this model is the way we deal with two modes that can be extended to many other modes. This work therefore shows on a concrete example a method to efficiently merge multiple modes into one model

CITY AUTOMATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM (CATS): THE LEGACY OF AN INNOVATIVE EUROPEAN PROJECT

CATS is a collaborative European project promoting driverless vehicles that ended in December 2014. This contribution explains how the project evolved, including the handling of unexpected events and concentrating on lessons learned. The constructor and vehicle had to be changed for economic reasons in the middle of the project timeline. A second constructor went bankrupt, although access to his vehicles could be secured. For security and legal reasons, part of the final demonstration was relocated at short notice to the EPFL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland, where around 1600 people were transported during 16 days of vehicle operation. Reactions to the driverless vehicle concept were overwhelmingly positive. Implications for the acceptability of driverless vehicles in Europe and elsewhere are discussed