Cloud Connected Delivery Vehicles project receives award from CTS

Congratulations to Distinguished McKnight University Professor Shashi Shekhar and Ph.D. student Yan Li for receiving the 2021 Robert C. Johns Research Partnership Award from the Center for Transportation Studies (CTS).

He was honored for his work on the Cloud Connected Delivery Vehicles project. This research developed technology to improve the fuel efficiency of last-mile delivery vehicles through real-time powertrain optimization using two-way vehicle-to-cloud connectivity. The effort led to a 20 percent improvement in the fuel economy of hybrid delivery vehicles operating as part of the UPS fleet and may help reduce energy consumption of future connected and automated delivery vehicles. The research also has the potential to ease the transition to electrification for commercial applications.

The project was led by the University of Minnesota and represents a collaboration between engine research and computer and data science. In addition to Shekhar and Li, the team included Professor Will Northrop and Ph.D. students Pengyue Wang, both from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The Robert C. Johns Research Partnership Award is presented annually to a team of individuals who have collaboratively drawn on their diverse expertise to achieve significant impacts on transportation. The award is named in honor of former CTS director Robert Johns, who provided visionary leadership in recognizing that the most effective research to address today’s complex transportation challenges is often a result of interdisciplinary teamwork and partnerships.