University of Twente Student Theses
The Design of a Modular and Future-Proof Last-Mile Delivery Hub with Light Electric Vehicles : a 2024-2050 use case with Fulpra
Akkermans, Ilse (2024) The Design of a Modular and Future-Proof Last-Mile Delivery Hub with Light Electric Vehicles : a 2024-2050 use case with Fulpra.
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| Abstract: | This research focusses on the design of a hub for last-mile delivery with light electric freight vehicles. A design methodology is proposed and applied to a specific use case. The design methodology aims to combine field-specific logistic knowledge, with established theories from architecture and product design. This enables the designer to approach architecture as a product, introducing high flexibility and responsiveness into architecture. This thesis answers the main research question: How could the design of a last-mile logistics hub, using light freight vehicles, be flexible and responsive to future changes? Within the notion of future changes, a distinction can be made between the expected future: an extrapolation of trends, developments, and states of the world, and uncertainties: multi-factor trends and unexpected events. Within this thesis, a future context, including critical areas of uncertainty, is identified by means of the proposed methodology. Yet, there is not a singular answer as to how last-mile hubs will be affected by future trends and uncertainties. From the methodology it did become apparent that, the higher the uncertainty, the more flexibility and responsiveness is generally required from the hub. Components should be easy to interchange and replace. This allows the hub to respond to both foreseen trends and unforeseen developments. Dealing with foreseen and unforeseen trends calls for a distinction between 'responsive' and 'flexible'. Being responsive is defined as having a fixed set of possible responses to future changes. These possible responses are achieved with available modular blocks. Thus, modular design is a supportive tool in the development of a last-mile logistics hub. And there is a notion of flexibility, which is a response to unforeseen events. Flexibility is supported by modularity because within modularity each block is independent. Thus, product components can be changed, removed, or added, without requiring invasive changes to the entire system. Flexibility extends beyond the readily available configurations and allows new technologies and developments to be introduced as a new block in the modular configuration. Using the methodology, the last-mile hub is segmented into different modules. These modules are made independent, making the product flexible, resilient, and responsive. The modular building blocks of the hub are constructed after a thorough analysis of the system and its context. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | ET: Engineering Technology |
| Subject: | 51 materials science, 52 mechanical engineering, 55 traffic technology, transport technology, 56 civil engineering |
| Programme: | Industrial Design Engineering MSc (66955) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/103963 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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