Dynamic investigation on a new robotized vehicle for urban freight transport

The paper presents and discusses modelling and simulation of a robotic vehicle called FURBOT, designed for last mile delivery of freights. The focus is on the design process through simulation to meet requirements typical of a robot as well as automotive performance as for a commercial van. It is introduced the original concept of vehicle self-adapting its configuration and speed to ensure stability and integrity of the load and to protect the chassis itself from overload and mechanical fatigue, making possible a leaner sizing of the chassis structures and so higher payload to overall mass. FURBOT is small, dexterous, thought to work in fleet, suitable for e-commerce market and endowed with a robotized system for loading/unloading the freight. A virtual prototype of the vehicle is implemented to predict with sufficient accuracy, yet from the first steps of the design process, the reaction and performance against typical driving conditions typical of vehicle development; control logics are consequently derived.