Review of Modular Transit Vehicles Scheduling Research

doi:10.16097/j.cnki.1009-6744.2025.04.017

Abstract

Abstract: Modular Transit Vehicles (MTV) represent an innovative form of public transportation, with the core feature of being able to flexibly combine and split modular units according to passenger demand. This characteristic helps optimize resource utilization, operational efficiency, and passenger comfort within public transportation systems. In recent years, with the development of intelligent transportation technologies, the MTV scheduling strategies have become a research hotspot. Therefore, this study summarizes and analyzes the current research on MTV scheduling and evaluation methods. First, the paper introduces how existing MTV scheduling studies are categorized and the content included in each category. Then, the related research on MTVscheduling is classified and organized, and the performance evaluation indicators of MTV are summarized. The classification is primarily based on the service scope of MTV scheduling in existing studies (single line service scope and line network service scope). It is then further refined according to the locations of stops where modular units can be combined or split and the characteristics of MTV operational lines (fixed/flexible single line scheduling and fixed/flexible line network scheduling). Additionally, specific MTV service modes are covered (fixed-route transit, feeder bus transit, direct bus transit, shuttle bus transit, demand-responsive transit, customized bus). At last, the paper summarizes the limitations in the research content and provides suggestions for potential future research directions: exploring passenger transfer schemes within the vehicle, MTV charging and battery swapping strategies, enriching research scenarios, focusing on MTV infrastructure development, and raising public awareness of MTV.

Key words: urban traffic, modular transit, literature review, vehicle scheduling, intelligent transportation

摘要： 模块化公交车辆(Modular Transit Vehicles, MTV)作为一种创新的公共交通工具，其核心特点是能够根据需求灵活地组合与拆分模块单元，优化公共交通系统的资源利用率、运营效率和乘客舒适度。近年来，随着智能交通技术的发展，MTV的调度策略成为研究热点，为此，本文总结与分析MTV调度和评价方法的研究现状。首先，介绍如何对已有的MTV调度研究进行分类以及各类别包含的研究内容；其次，分类整理MTV调度的相关研究，并总结MTV的评价指标，分类方式主要根据已有研究中MTV的调度服务范围进行划分(单线路服务范围和线路网服务范围)，再根据模块化单元之间可组合与拆分的站点位置和MTV运行线路的特点进一步细分(固定/弹性单线路调度和固定/灵活线路网调度)，此外，还涵盖MTV具体的服务模式(常规公交、接驳公交、直达公交、穿梭公交、需求响应式公交和定制公交)；最后，总结研究内容中存在的不足，为未来潜在研究方向提供建议，深入探讨乘客车内换乘方案、MTV充换电策略、丰富MTV研究场景以及关注MTV基础设施建设，并重视公众对模块化公交车辆的认识度。

关键词: 城市交通, 模块化公交, 研究综述, 车辆调度, 智能交通

CLC Number:

U491.1

SONG Cuiying, DING Jie, ZHANG Chunbo. Review of Modular Transit Vehicles Scheduling Research[J]. Journal of Transportation Systems Engineering and Information Technology, 2025, 25(4): 175-192.

宋翠颖, 丁杰, 张春波. 模块化公交车辆调度研究综述[J]. 交通运输系统工程与信息, 2025, 25(4): 175-192.

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