Introducing Autonomous Shuttle Services Based on Travel Patterns for the Elderly

Abstract

The transportation-disadvantaged population is rapidly increasing through aging; moreover, the mobility of the elderly has increased due to life expectancy improvements and lifestyle changes. To respond to these changes, a customized mobility service specifically tailored to the travel patterns of the elderly was developed in this study. In particular, an autonomous shuttle service that can improve the operational efficiency and the accessibility of existing transportation methods was proposed by considering the travel characteristics of elderly people, who mainly travel short distances. To this end, a study was conducted in Seongnam City, Republic of Korea, where mobility support services for the elderly are insufficient. Using smart card data, the elderly were classified according to their travel patterns, with autonomous shuttle routes suggested for each travel purpose. We derived four clusters via the Gaussian mixture model clustering, with travel purposes classified according to the spatiotemporal travel patterns. Finally, the major routes for each travel purpose were selected, and feasible road paths for autonomous shuttle operation were suggested using the concept of ODD (operational design domain). This holistic methodology is expected to contribute to the development of autonomous mobility services for the elderly and for the establishment of welfare policies based on the smart card data.

Urban Mobility Dynamics in the Realm of Autonomous Shuttles on Dedicated Lanes: A Microscopic Synthesis

“…However, optimal outcomes are observed when the CAV penetration rate surpasses 60% and the density remains at 40 vehicles per kilometer per lane or higher, making the adoption of CAV dedicated lanes the most effective choice [12,13,30]. Additional microscopic studies conducted by Talebpour et al [31], Hamad & Alozi [2] and Kang et al [29] also concur with the observation that the effectiveness of dedicated lanes is mainly influenced by MPRs. These studies also support the conclusion that shared lanes tend to exhibit superior performance during periods of low traffic volumes, while dedicated lanes outperform shared lanes in congested conditions.…”

“…Conversely, traffic performance demonstrates considerable improvement once the MPR exceeds 30%. User behavior experiments involving AS pilot studies targeting transportdisadvantaged elderly individuals in Japan [27], Rural America [28], and the Republic of Korea [29] illustrated a decline in skepticism, improvement in trust, and an enhanced perception of reliability following their engagement with the AS service.…”