A Two-Stage Optimization of Hybrid Truck–Robot Delivery for Sustainable Urban Logistics

Sang-Myeong Kim and Jae-Dong Son ()
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Sang-Myeong Kim: Department of IT Distribution and Logistics, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
Jae-Dong Son: Department of Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: This study addresses the operational and environmental pressures of last-mile delivery in dense cities under limited urban logistics hubs. We propose a resource-efficient framework that repurposes existing convenience stores as robotic delivery hubs and formalize its operation via a two-stage optimization coupling truck and robot routing. In controlled simulations, and in a Seoul street network scenario, the approach reduces total completion time relative to a truck-only benchmark and lowers truck activity (truck-kilometers and curb idling), leading to lower estimated CO 2 e under standard emission factors. We also observe a nonlinear relationship between the number of hubs and efficiency, suggesting a coverage “sweet spot”. These results indicate that with minimal new infrastructure, reusing commercial assets can improve operational performance and environmental proxies; social and labor outcomes are not measured here and are left for future field evaluation.

Keywords: sustainable urban logistics; infrastructure reuse; convenience store hubs; last mile; truck–robot collaboration; two-stage optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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