The TRACE Italian Demonstrator in Modena will showcase a pilot action in the experimental grounds of the Modena Automotive Smart Area (MASA ) and in the Green Diagonal (a cycling path connecting the city center with an external logistics hub) about the usage of smart and connected vehicles in order to optimize last-mile deliveries.
Autonomous cargo bikes relying on the local IT systems will be employed in two experimental modes: platooning, where one or more pilotless cargo bikes will follow a lead cargo bike driven by a human operator; and follow me, where one cargo bike will follow a walking operator along the final delivery route.
The Demonstrator team will build these capabilities starting from the technologies identified and developed by the TRACE project. It will also work along the requirements laid out by the relevant actors, both inside the project and external experts.
The goal of the pilot is to meet the target Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) regarding reductions in energy and fuel consumption, emissions and operational costs for goods delivery through the adoption of synchromodal transport.
The development and experimentation will involve the local administration (Comune di Modena), the local university (Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia), a cargo bike logistic company (URBICO), a cargo bike manufacturer (One Less Van), a technology developer (Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique), a logistic institute (Istituto Trasporti e Logistica) and a drone service company (DiFly).