AI-Driven Transportation Systems: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Mobility

A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Systems Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 2529

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
Interests: autonomous driving; traffic demand forecasting; mixed traffic flow modelling and simulation; traffic state estimation; multimodal vehicle trajectory; deep learning
Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
Interests: transportation big data analysis; autonomous driving simulation model; parking planning and design; transportation and energy integration; emergency logistics; transportation safety analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Transportation and Civil Engineering and Architecture, Foshan University, Foshan, China
Interests: modeling and simulation of complex traffic systems; intelligent network transportation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into transportation systems has revolutionized the development of next-generation vehicles and mobility ecosystems. This Special Issue focuses on cutting-edge research leveraging AI to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of transportation systems. Topics include autonomous driving algorithms, AI-optimized traffic flow prediction, human–machine interactions in intelligent vehicles, energy management for electric/hybrid vehicles, digital healthcare engineering (DHE), and AI-enabled predictive maintenance for transport infrastructure. Emerging challenges such as edge computing for real-time decision-making, explainable AI in safety-critical scenarios, and the ethical implications of AI-driven mobility will also be explored. Submissions are encouraged to address multimodal transportation integration, including aerial drones, maritime vessels, and hyperloop systems, with an emphasis on system-level interoperability. Additionally, we welcome studies on digital twin frameworks, federated learning for distributed transportation networks, and AI applications in reducing carbon footprints. This Issue aims to bridge theoretical advancements with practical implementations, fostering discussions on regulatory frameworks and the societal acceptance of AI-powered transportation.

Prof. Dr. Rongjun Cheng
Dr. Xiaofei Ye
Dr. Cong Zhai
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • intelligent transportation systems
  • trajectory prediction
  • ship performance calculation and ship path planning
  • crew health system
  • traffic accident reconstruction
  • digital twin technology
  • deep learning
  • intelligent parking systems
  • transportation and energy integration emergency logistics
  • application of large language models in the transportation field

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1369 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Impact for Mixed Traffic Flow Based on the Time-Varying Model Predictive Control
by Rongjun Cheng, Haoli Lou and Qi Wei
Systems 2025, 13(6), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060481 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 258
Abstract
The connected and automated vehicles (CAV) smoothing mixed traffic flow has gained attention, and a thorough assessment of these control algorithms is necessary. Our previous research proposed the time-varying model predictive control (TV-MPC) strategy, which considers the time-varying driving style of human driven [...] Read more.
The connected and automated vehicles (CAV) smoothing mixed traffic flow has gained attention, and a thorough assessment of these control algorithms is necessary. Our previous research proposed the time-varying model predictive control (TV-MPC) strategy, which considers the time-varying driving style of human driven vehicles (HDV), performing better than current baseline models. Due TV-MPC can be applied to any traffic congestion scenario and the dynamic modeling that considers driving style, can be easily transferred to other control algorithms. Thus, TV-MPC enable to represent typical control algorithms in mixed traffic flow. This study investigates the performance of TV-MPC under diverse disturbance characteristics and mixed platoons. Firstly, quantifying mixed traffic flow with different CAV penetration rates and platooning intensities by a Markov chain model. Secondly, by constructing evaluation indicators for micro-level operation of mixed traffic flow, this paper analyzed the impact of TV-MPC on the operation of mixed traffic flow through simulation. The results demonstrate that (1) CAV achieve optimal control at specific positions within mixed traffic flow; (2) higher CAV penetration enhances TV-MPC performance; (3) dispersed CAV distributions improve control effectiveness; and (4) TV-MPC excels in scenarios with significant disturbances. Full article
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31 pages, 4745 KiB  
Article
Effect of Pre-Trip Information in a Traffic Network with Stochastic Travel Conditions: Role of Risk Attitude
by Yun Yu, Shiteng Zheng, Yuankai Li, Huaqing Liu and Jianan Cao
Systems 2025, 13(6), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060407 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 279
Abstract
Empirical studies have suggested that travelers’ risk attitudes affect their choice behavior when travel conditions are stochastic. By considering the travelers’ risk attitudes, we extend the classical two-route model, in which road capacities vary due to such shocks as bad weather, accidents, and [...] Read more.
Empirical studies have suggested that travelers’ risk attitudes affect their choice behavior when travel conditions are stochastic. By considering the travelers’ risk attitudes, we extend the classical two-route model, in which road capacities vary due to such shocks as bad weather, accidents, and special events. Two information regimes have been investigated. In the zero-information regime, we postulate that travelers acquire the variability in route travel time based on past experiences and choose the route to minimize the travel time budget. In the full-information regime, travelers have pre-trip information of the road capacities and thus choose the route to minimize the travel time. User equilibrium states of the two regimes have been analyzed, based on the canonical BPR travel time function with power coefficient p. In the special case p=1, the closed form solutions have been derived. Three cases and eleven subcases have been classified concerning the dependence of expected total travel times on the risk attitude in the zero-information regime. In the general condition p>0, although we are not able to derive the closed form solutions, we proved that the results are qualitatively unchanged. We have studied the benefit gains/losses by shifting from the zero-information to the full-information regime. The circumstance under which pre-trip information is beneficial has been identified. A numerical analysis is conducted to further illustrate the theoretical findings. Full article
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Review

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20 pages, 8834 KiB  
Review
Human Digital Healthcare Engineering for Enhancing the Health and Well-Being of Seafarers and Offshore Workers: A Comprehensive Review
by Meng-Xuan Cui, Kun-Hou He, Fang Wang and Jeom-Kee Paik
Systems 2025, 13(5), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13050335 - 1 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1284
Abstract
With over 50,000 merchant vessels and nearly two million seafarers operating globally, more than 12,000 maritime incidents in the past decade underscore the urgent need for proactive safety measures to ensure the structural integrity of aging ships and safeguard the well-being of seafarers, [...] Read more.
With over 50,000 merchant vessels and nearly two million seafarers operating globally, more than 12,000 maritime incidents in the past decade underscore the urgent need for proactive safety measures to ensure the structural integrity of aging ships and safeguard the well-being of seafarers, who face harsh ocean environments in remote locations. The Digital Healthcare Engineering (DHE) framework offers a proactive solution to these challenges, comprising five interconnected modules: (1) real-time monitoring and measurement of health parameters, (2) transmission of collected data to land-based analytics centers, (3) data analytics and simulations leveraging digital twins, (4) AI-driven diagnostics and recommendations for remedial actions, and (5) predictive health analysis for optimal maintenance planning. This paper reviews the core technologies required to implement the DHE framework in real-world settings, with a specific focus on the well-being of seafarers and offshore workers, referred to as Human DHE (HDHE). Key technical challenges are identified, and practical solutions to address these challenges are proposed for each individual module. This paper also outlines future research directions to advance the development of an HDHE system, aiming to enhance the safety, health, and overall well-being of seafarers operating in demanding maritime environments. Full article
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