Modular pod systems that couple and decouple in motion are a fast-growing field of international research. This page collects the literature in full, from the studies that reference NExT with a measured result through to the rest of the field, with a link to the official edition of every entry. No study here was commissioned by NExT.
Over 90 institutions produced this literature. The size of each name reflects how many entries it accounts for.
New York University includes the Abu Dhabi and Shanghai campuses. Counts are per entry, taken from the authors’ affiliations.
Independent studies that reference NExT and report quantified results.
- Dial-a-ride problem with modular platooning and en-route transfersZ. Fu, J. Chow · New York University · Transportation Research Part C, 2023
"MV technology can save up to 52.0% in vehicle travel cost, 35.6% in passenger service time, and 29.4% in total cost against existing on-demand mobility services."
- A seamless bus network without external transfers using autonomous modular vehiclesZ. Khan, M. Menéndez · NYU Abu Dhabi · Transportation Research Part C, 2024
"It provides significantly superior performance, reducing passengers' travel cost by up to 35% under realistic system settings."
- Scheduling strategy for transit routes with modular autonomous vehiclesY. Ji, B. Liu, Y. Shen, Y. Du · Tongji University · International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology, 2021
"It leads to an 84.9% reduction in the total empty seat…"
- Optimizing a modular autonomous vehicle hub-and-spoke public transportation system: routing, scheduling, and repositioningZ. Wang, K. An, G. Correia · Tongji · TU Delft · Transportation Research Part E, 2025
"The MAV service can reduce passenger travel time by over 20% compared to conventional bus service, and over 90% of the passengers could benefit from the convenience of in-bus transfers."
- Optimizing modular vehicle public transportation services with short-turning strategy and decoupling/coupling operationsH. Cao, J. Zhao · Beijing Jiaotong University · Sustainability, 2025
"It can achieve precise matching between passenger demand and transport capacity, thereby reducing the passenger waiting time cost by about 29.99%."
- Operational design for modular electrified transit in corridor areasK. Zou, K. Zhang, M. Li · Tsinghua University · Transportation Research Part E, 2024
"Pareto optimality analysis underscores MET-CA's 24.4% average electricity savings and highlights its advantages in efficiency and flexibility over bus rapid transit and demand responsive transit."
- An autonomous modular mobility paradigmJ. Lin, Y. Nie, K. Kawamura · UIC · Northwestern · IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Magazine, 2022
"In the United States, public transit vehicles have a very low average load factor (10.1–12.4%), resulting in an excessive waste of seat capacity and poor fuel economy per passenger mile served."
- Designing corridor systems with modular autonomous vehicles enabling station-wise docking: discrete modeling methodZ. Chen, X. Li · University of South Florida · Transportation Research Part E, 2021
“the station-wise docking operation also increases the average vehicle occupancy from 63% to 100%.”
- Optimising modular-autonomous-vehicle transit service employing coupling–decoupling operations plus skip-stop strategyJ. Zhang, Y.-E. Ge, C. Tang, M. Zhong · Chang'an · Dalian Maritime · Transportation Research Part E, 2024
“…the mode designed in this work reduces the total cost of the transit system by 9.87%–32.09% and the passenger travel cost by 17.92%–38.54%.”
- Joint optimization of modular autonomous vehicles scheduling and seat allocation for reservation-based travelC. Zhu, X. Guo, K. Zhang, D. Lee et al. · Beijing Jiaotong · EPFL · Transportation Research Part E, 2026
“…fully flexible MAV operations outperform fixed-capacity and partially flexible strategies, achieving up to a 41.98% reduction in overall system cost.”
- Customized bus network for efficient service: design of modular vehicle transfer schemeH. Shang, Y. Li, J. Mao, W. Wu · Capital UEB · North China UT · Transportmetrica B, 2026
“…the method cuts system cost by up to 20.82%, shortens travel distance by 26.89%–42.86% and lifts load factor by 8.24%–37.42%.”
- Optimal scheduling of mixed conventional and modular autonomous bus fleets for sustainable urban transitX. Dou, R. Dong, Y. Lin, T. Li · Beijing UT · Journal of Cleaner Production, 2026
“…the optimal mixed-fleet schedule significantly outperforms CHB-only operations, achieving a total cost reduction of 57.7%.”
- Exploiting the flexibility of modular buses in an urban transit systemC. Filippi, G. Guastaroba, L. Peirano, M. Grazia Speranza · University of Brescia · Transportation Research Part C, 2025
“the total capacity deployed can be reduced by 49% with respect to a conventional transit system, whereas the average occupancy ratio increases from 41.22% to 72.85%.”
- Optimizing timetabling and platoon formation of shuttle transit with modular autonomous vehicles considering time-dependent passenger demandY. Zhao, T. Liu, W. Meng et al. · Southwest Jiaotong · Transportation Letters, 2025
“…achieving a 73.70% decrease in empty seat time and a 29.75% reduction in passenger waiting time compared to traditional fixed-capacity transit.”
- Optimizing last-mile public transit services by leveraging modular autonomous vehiclesH. Bao, X. Luo, Q. Su, H. Wang · Southwest Jiaotong University · ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A, 2025
"Combining random boarding and en route transfer reduced vehicle demand (−29.34%) and lowered the total costs for users and operators (−14.09%)."
- Improving flex-route transit services with modular autonomous vehiclesX. Liu, X. Qu, X. Ma · Beihang · Chalmers · Transportation Research Part E, 2021
“this slack strategy could reduce the rejection rate and system cost by up to 63% and 40%, respectively.”
- Modular vehicle routing for combined passenger and freight transportJ. Hatzenbühler, E. Jenelius, G. Gidófalvi, O. Cats · KTH Stockholm · TU Delft · Transportation Research Part A, 2023
"The experiments indicate a cost saving of 48% due to modularity and an additional 9% due to consolidation."
- Integrating freight transport into first-and-last-mile ridesharing services with modular autonomous vehiclesB. Sun, B. Yu, Z. Liu, L. Zhang · NUS Singapore · Beihang · Transportation Research Part B, 2025
“…the system-wide costs, in comparison with separate passenger and freight transport, can be reduced by 53.67%…”
- Modular bus unit scheduling for an autonomous transit system under range and charging constraintsH. Gao, K. Liu, J. Wang, F. Guo · Dalian UT · Imperial College · Applied Sciences, 2023
"The generated optimal MB dispatching scheme can significantly reduce the operating cost … a decrease of approximately 25% compared to conventional electric buses."
- Are more charging piles imperative to future electrified transportation system?X. Qu, H. Shao, S. Wang, Y. Wang · Tsinghua · Georgia Tech · Fundamental Research, 2024
"Once V2V charging technologies with an efficiency of 50% are available, more than 2/3 of the charging piles investment would be wasted."
- Robust design for underground metro systems with modular vehiclesM. Pei, M. Xu, L. Zhong, X. Qu · South China UT · Tsinghua · Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2023
“the average number of carriages and average headway were reduced by 79.76% and 35.71%, respectively.”
- A Study on the Optimization of Modular Autonomous Public Transit ServicesJ. Zhang, C. Tang · Chang'an · Dalian Maritime · Journal of South China University of Technology (Natural Science Edition), 2025
“…passenger waiting time costs and travel time costs are reduced by 7.49% to 48.52% and 2.31% to 6.28%, respectively.”
- Adaptive scheduling method for bus based on autonomous modular vehicles main-auxiliary function allocationZ. Qu, M. Wang, Z. Wang, X. Song et al. · Jilin University · Journal of Jilin University (Engineering and Technology Edition), 2025
“…compared with the traditional fixed-capacity bus and station-responsive modular bus, the proposed model reduces the total cost of the system by about 35.62% and 6.54%…”
- Optimization of Semi-Flexible Bus Service Based on Modular Autonomous VehiclesL. He, X. Yang, H. Gong · Tongji University · CICTP Proceedings, ASCE, 2025
“…achieving a 35% reduction in total system costs, based on simulation results from real demand data.”
Independent studies that reference NExT, reproduce its pods or use its specifications.
- A modular, adaptive, and autonomous transit system (MAATS): an in-motion transfer strategy and performance evaluationJ. Wu, B. Kulcsár, Selpi, X. Qu · Chalmers · Transportation Research Part A, 2021
"Numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed transit system results in shorter travel time and a significantly reduced average number of transfers."
- Safety assurance adaptive control for modular autonomous vehiclesC. Ma, H. Zhou, P. Zhang et al. · University of Wisconsin–Madison · Communications in Transportation Research, 2025
"The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through simulations … and field tests on a reduced-scale MAV platform."
- Day-to-day market evaluation of modular autonomous vehicle fleet operations with en-route transfersN. Caros, J. Chow · New York University · Transportmetrica B, 2021
- Trajectory planning for autonomous modular vehicle docking and autonomous vehicle platooning operationsQ. Li, X. Li · University of South Florida · Transportation Research Part E, 2022
- Planning two-dimensional trajectories for modular bus enroute dockingY. Han, X. Ma, B. Yu, Q. Li et al. · Beihang University · Transportation Research Part E, 2024
- Key Perception Technologies for Intelligent Docking in Autonomous Modular BusesY. Xiao, Y. Zheng, J. Liu, Y. Ye · CRRC · East China Normal · Journal of Advanced Transportation, 2025
- No time for stopping: a Stop-Less Autonomous Modular (SLAM) bus serviceZ. Khan, M. Menéndez · NYU Abu Dhabi · Transportation Research Part C, 2024
"The SLAM bus service thus significantly reduces travel times … making its travel time more competitive with private vehicles while still providing the economies of scale of public transport."
- Bus splitting and bus holding: a new strategy using autonomous modular buses for preventing bus bunchingZ. Khan, M. Menéndez · NYU Abu Dhabi · Transportation Research Part A, 2023
"A bus service adopting the proposed strategy would therefore be more cost-effective, reliable, and attractive for commuters, potentially increasing its ridership and reducing the mode share of private vehicles."
- Application of modular vehicle technology to mitigate bus bunchingZ. Khan, W. He, M. Menéndez · NYU Abu Dhabi · Transportation Research Part C, 2023
"It therefore reduces the overhead of bus bunching and thus the travel cost by more than twice as much as the benchmark for busy bus lines."
- Design of urban transit services using autonomous modular busesT. Torres, M. Estrada, H. Badia · UPC Barcelona · Transportmetrica B, 2025
"…identifying favourable conditions for potential implementation, and forecasting a significant reduction in user travel times."
- An autonomous modular public transit serviceX. Cheng, Y. Nie, J. Lin · Northwestern · UIC · Transportation Research Part C, 2024
"AMPT, if designed properly, may save the total cost compared to traditional transit systems thanks to demand responsive pod train capacity, particularly in the low demand scenarios."
- Integrated timetabling and scheduling of modular autonomous vehicles under uncertaintyD. Xia, J. Ma, S. Sharif Azadeh · Beijing Jiaotong · TU Delft · Transportation Science, 2026
"Our approaches are able to find timetables and vehicle schedules requiring fewer units and lower operational costs compared with using fixed-formation vehicles."
- Integrated optimization of timetable, bus formation, and vehicle scheduling in autonomous modular public transport systemsZ. Liu, G. Correia, Z. Ma, S. Li, X. Ma · Beihang · TU Delft · Transportation Research Part C, 2023
"Our findings indicate that the use of AMVs in PT systems can lead to reduced overall system costs and increased vehicle utilization."
- Optimisation of a new hybrid transit service with modular autonomous vehiclesC. Tang, J. Liu, A. Ceder, Y. Jiang · Dalian Maritime · Technion · Transportmetrica A, 2023
"Compared with a conventional fixed-route service, the hybrid service significantly reduces the total system cost, especially passenger walking and waiting time costs."
- Modular transit: using autonomy and modularity to improve performance in public transportationZ. Zhang, A. Tafreshian, N. Masoud · University of Michigan · Transportation Research Part E, 2020
"A new form of automated public transportation, named 'modular transit', configured to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional bus, including the first- and last-mile problem, low occupancy, and low levels of comfort, accessibility, and flexibility."
- Vehicle dispatching in modular transit networks: a mixed-integer nonlinear programming modelM. Pei, P. Lin, J. Du, X. Li, Z. Chen · South China UT · South Florida · Transportation Research Part E, 2021
"Modular vehicle (MV) technology offers the possibility of flexibly adjusting the vehicle capacity by docking/undocking modular pods into vehicles of different sizes en route to satisfy passenger demand."
- Data-driven distributionally robust timetabling and dynamic-capacity allocation for automated bus systems with modular vehiclesD. Xia, J. Ma, S. Sharif Azadeh, W. Zhang · Beijing Jiaotong · TU Delft · Transportation Research Part C, 2023
"Flexible formations of MVs assigned to each trip at each stop … results in more customized operational plans driven by the passenger demand."
- A conceptual non-stop operation strategy for urban rail transit: a case study of São Paulo's monorail lineR. Oliveira, Z. Zhang · Shanghai Jiao Tong · Smart and Resilient Transportation, 2024
- Integrated timetabling and vehicle scheduling of an intermodal urban transit network: a distributionally robust optimization approachD. Xia, J. Ma, S. Sharif Azadeh · Beijing Jiaotong · TU Delft · Transportation Research Part C, 2024
- Operational design for shuttle systems with modular vehicles under oversaturated traffic: discrete modeling methodZ. Chen, X. Li, X. Zhou · South Florida · Arizona State · Transportation Research Part B, 2019
- Operational design for shuttle systems with modular vehicles under oversaturated traffic: continuous modeling methodZ. Chen, X. Li, X. Zhou · South Florida · Arizona State · Transportation Research Part B, 2020
- Variable-capacity operations with modular transits for shared-use corridorsX. Shi, Z. Chen, M. Pei, X. Li · University of South Florida · Transportation Research Record, 2020
- Planning for modular-vehicle transit service system: model formulation and solution methodsQ. Tian, Y. Lin, D. Wang, Y. Liu · NTU Singapore · Transportation Research Part C, 2022
- Joint scheduling and formation design for modular-vehicle transit service with time-dependent demandQ. Tian, Y. Lin, D. Wang · NTU Singapore · Transportation Research Part C, 2023
- An optimization model for en-route express service scheduling in modular autonomous transit systemsS. Xiao, Y. Zhang, L. Yang · Beijing Jiaotong University · Transportation Research Part C, 2026
- Planning modular integrated transit system with fixed-route and demand-responsive servicesX. Li, Q. Yin, Y. Yuan · Dalian Maritime · Transportation Letters, 2026
- Toward real-time operations of modular-vehicle transit services: From rolling horizon control to learning-based approachQ. Tian, Y. Hui Lin, D. Z.W. Wang, K. Yang · NTU Singapore · A*STAR · Transportation Research Part C, 2025
- The bi-mode problem with modular buses and private vehicles in the autonomous driving environmentC. Li, M. Zhang, G. Jiang, T. Wang · Central South · Sun Yat-sen · Transportmetrica B, 2024
- A continuum approximation approach for designing corridor-based heterogeneous transit service using modular autonomous vehiclesX. Luo, W. Fan, Y. Zhang, A. D’Ariano et al. · Chongqing Jiaotong · Hong Kong PolyU · Transportation Research Part E, 2025
- Multimodal traffic assignment considering heterogeneous demand and modular operation of shared autonomous vehiclesT. Wang, S. Jian, C. Zhou, B. Jia et al. · HKUST · Beijing Jiaotong · Transportation Research Part C, 2024
- Data-Driven Modular Vehicle Scheduling in Scenic AreasY. Hong, M. Xu, Y. Jin, S. Wang · Hong Kong PolyU · Applied Sciences, 2024
- Modular autonomous vehicle in heterogeneous traffic flow: modeling, simulation, and implicationL. Ye, T. Yamamoto · Nagoya University · arXiv (preprint), 2024
- Optimal design of on-demand modular feeder transit servicesX. Luo, W. Fan, M. Xu, X. Yan · Chongqing Jiaotong · HK Polytechnic · Transportation Research Part C, 2025
"MFT consistently outperforms traditional fixed-capacity feeder bus transit…"
- Feeder bus network design with modular transit vehiclesD. Zermasli, C. Iliopoulou, G. Laskaris, K. Kepaptsoglou · NTUA Athens · Journal of Public Transportation, 2023
"The possibility of dynamically adjusting capacity by assembling and disassembling multiple modular pods allows for improved transit service flexibility and efficiency, reducing operator and passenger costs."
- Optimizing demand-responsive feeder transit service with modular autonomous vehicles employing fixed and flexible stationsJ. Zou, M. Yang, M. Zhang, R. Zhang et al. · Southeast University · Transportation Research Part E, 2026
- Operation design of last-mile transit service with modular vehiclesQ. Tian, Y. Yu, J. Liang, Y. Hui Lin et al. · Macau UST · NUS Singapore · Transportation Research Part C, 2026
- Modular Autonomous Electric Vehicle scheduling for demand-responsive transit services with modular charging strategyY. Yuan, Y. Li, X. Li et al. · Dalian Maritime · Advanced Engineering Informatics, 2025
- Modular vehicle routing problem: applications in logisticsH. Zhou, Y. Li, C. Ma, K. Long, X. Li · University of Wisconsin–Madison · Transportation Research Part E, 2025
"MVs can either serve customers independently or dock with other MVs to form a platoon, thereby reducing the average cost per unit."
- Modular vehicles in freight transport: a systematic literature reviewX. Liao, L. Tavasszy, O. Cats, M. Saeednia · TU Delft · Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 2025
"Modular vehicles … are emerging as a promising innovation in transportation, offering the potential to enhance operational efficiency, flexibility, and environmental sustainability."
- Modular vehicle-based transit system for passenger and freight co-modal transportationJ. Lin, F. Zhang · University of Hong Kong · Transportation Research Part C, 2024
- Robust charging station location and routing-scheduling for electric modular autonomous unitsD. Xia, L. Yang, Y. Lu, S. Sharif Azadeh · TU Delft · Beijing Jiaotong · arXiv (preprint), 2025
"Comparisons with fixed-composition buses under the same fleet investment suggest that our methods are able to achieve substantial reductions in passengers' costs by flexibly scheduling units."
- Charging scheduling and route planning for modular bus systems considering non-linear charging profileH. Yi, Y. Liu, M. Menéndez, L. Tang · SWJTU · NYU Abu Dhabi · Transportation Research Part C, 2025
"Flexible MV dispatching cuts down total costs by saving capacity."
- Charging-on-the-move public transit systems constituted by modular trolleybuses and modular busesH. Yi, Y. Liu, H. Yang, M. Menéndez · SWJTU · NYU Abu Dhabi · IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 2025
"Transit systems crafted with MVs exhibit enhanced performance in delivering flexible transit services, outperforming traditional door-to-door shuttle services."
- MoBUS: modular bus systems for dynamic spatial demandsH. Yi, Y. Liu, M. Menéndez, S. Zheng, J. Chen · SWJTU · NYU Abu Dhabi · SSRN (preprint), 2025
- Modular vehicle technology for emergency medical servicesG. Hannoun, M. Menéndez · NYU Abu Dhabi · Transportation Research Part C, 2022
"The proposed system can adapt and offer larger benefits, in terms of response times and times to hospital, as demand increases and/or resources become more limited."
- Evaluating public a priori acceptance of autonomous modular transitS. Rejali, K. Aghabayk, A. Mohammadi, N. Shiwakoti · University of Tehran · QUT · Journal of Public Transportation, 2024
"Public transport regular users showed a higher intention to use AMT compared to PT non-regular users."
- Modular vehicles can reduce greenhouse gas emissions for departure flight baggage transportX. Shi, Z. Chen, X. Li, X. Qu · Wisconsin · Drexel · Journal of Air Transport Management, 2024
- Evaluating economic and environmental impact of electric modular vehicles in transit systemH. Gao, K. Liu, J. Wang, Z. Chen · Dalian UT · NYU Shanghai · Transportation Research Part D, 2025
- Road user opinions and needs regarding small modular autonomous electric vehicles: Differences between elderly and non‐elderly in NorwayC. Moscoso, I. Roche-Cerasi · SINTEF · IET Intelligent Transport Systems, 2024
- On the Cost-effectiveness of Modular Transit SystemsY. Liu, M. Menendez, Z. Chen · NYU Shanghai · New York University · SSRN (preprint), 2026
- Optimal Planning on a Single-Route Transit System with Modular BusesK. Jagdale, Z. S. Khan, M. Menéndez, M. Ornik · UIUC · NYU Abu Dhabi · IEEE ITSC Proceedings, 2023
- Dynamic train unit coupling and decoupling at cruising speed: Systematic classification, operational potentials, and research agendaM. Nold, F. Corman · ETH Zurich · Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management, 2021
- Service network design of modular vehicles on general road networks considering passengers’ turning choicesJ. Yu, X. Wang, L. Guo, Z. Chen, Z. Liang · Tongji · NYU Shanghai · Transportation Research Part B, 2026
- On the design of an optimal flexible bus dispatching system with modular bus units: Using the three-dimensional macroscopic fundamental diagramI. Dakic, K. Yang, M. Menéndez, J. Y. Chow · ETH Zurich · Stanford · Transportation Research Part B, 2021
- Fly-by Transit: A Novel Door-to-Door Shared Mobility With Minimal StopsW. Fan, W. Gu · Hong Kong PolyU · IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2026
- A network flow optimisation model for operational planning of modular autonomous public transport services with in-motion transfersN. Nassir, A. Fielbaum, S. Tiwari, A. Ceder · University of Melbourne · University of Sydney · Transportation Research Part C, 2026
- Assessing the Impacts of Autonomous Bus-on-Demand Based on Agent-Based Simulation: A Case Study of Fuyang, Zhejiang, ChinaZ. Zhai, Y. Yang, Y. Shen, Y. Ji, Y. Du · Tongji University · Journal of Advanced Transportation, 2020
- Improving passenger travel efficiency through a dynamic autonomous non-stop rail transit systemP. Wu, R. Guo, Z. Lin, R. Liu · Beihang · University of Leeds · Transportation Research Part E, 2024
- Design of an Intelligent Platoon Transit System towards Transportation ElectrificationH. Gao, A. Li, J. Wang, K. Liu · Dalian University of Technology · World Electric Vehicle Journal, 2022
- Optimal Routing of Modular Agents on a GraphK. Jagdale, M. Ornik · UIUC · IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium, 2023
- Innovative Technologies and Systems for Urban Mobility: The Case of PaduaM. Mazzarino, L. Braidotti, B. Royo, T. de la Cruz · Iuav Venezia · Lecture Notes in Intelligent Transportation, Springer, 2023
- Scheduling Problem of Modular Autonomous BusX. Luo, H. Zhao · Beijing Jiaotong University · IEEE ICITE Proceedings, 2023
- Optimal Layout of Modular Bus Lines in Urban Arterial CorridorP. Zhang, Y. Ji, Y. Cong, J. Ji, Y. Bie · Jilin University · Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, Springer, 2026
- ЗБІР ТА АНАЛІЗ ДАНИХ ДЛЯ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ ПЕРЕВЕЗЕНЬ У МІСЬКІЙ ПАСАЖИРСЬКІЙ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-ТРАНСПОРТНІЙ СИСТЕМІV. Shuts, A. Shviatsova, E. Prolisko · Brest State Technical University · Applied Questions of Mathematical Modelling, 2021
- Vehicle to Vehicle Recharge and Power Sharing for Modular Public Transportation Systems: Design and Testing of the UNIFI fleet at ENEA CASACCIA Research CenterA. Alessandrini, L. Berzi, M. Fabbri, M. Franci · University of Florence · ENEA · SAE Technical Paper, 2025
- Public bus transit service modeling and optimization: from conventional to autonomous vehiclesQ. Tian · NTU Singapore · PhD thesis, 2021
- Can the Physical Internet pave the way to a Mobility of Entities?S. Stein, M. Prandtstetter · Fraunhofer Austria · AIT · IPIC Proceedings, 2023
- Exploring modular mobility: Industry advancements, research trends, and future directions on modular autonomous vehiclesL. Ye, T. Yamamoto · Nagoya University · Research in Transportation Business & Management, 2026
- Routing coordination optimization for modular electric vehicles in intensive passenger flow evacuationJ. Yu, X. Chang, Q. Tian, H. Sun, J. Wu · Beijing Jiaotong · Macau UST · Transportation Research Part E, 2026
- Modular Autonomous Vehicles in Urban Transportation Systems: Trends, Modeling and Algorithmic Design Paradigms, and Future Research DirectionsB. Sun, X. Chen, Q. Meng · NUS Singapore · Multimodal Transportation, 2026
- Scheduling Optimization for Multi-line Modular Autonomous Bus Systems with In-vehicle TransfersB. Hu, H. Wang, W. Jing · Northeast Forestry University · Journal of Transportation Systems Engineering and Information Technology, 2026
“The model enables an ‘in-vehicle transfer’ mode, where passengers complete cross-line transfers without alighting, facilitated by the dynamic coupling and decoupling of Modular Units (MU).”
- Optimization of Bus Unit Dynamic Formation Plan in Modular Public Transport SystemH. Yue, X. Dong, L. Wang, Q. Qu, X. Zhang · Beijing Jiaotong · Journal of Transportation Systems Engineering and Information Technology, 2024
- On-Demand Modular Feeder Transit ServicesM. Xu, T. Liu · Beijing Jiaotong · Southwest Jiaotong · Urban Public Transport Operations Management with Emerging Technologies, Springer, 2026
“…MAVs can form cohesive platoons for high-efficiency trunk line transport and disassemble into individual units to fulfill on-demand passenger pick-up and drop-off tasks.”
- Future Directions for DRT Operation and ManagementK. Liu, T. Liu, J. Wang · Dalian UT · Southwest Jiaotong · Demand-Responsive Transit Systems, Springer, 2026
The rest of the field, with no direct reference to NExT.
- The pickup and delivery problem with synchronized en-route transfers for microtransit planningZ. Fu, J. Chow · New York University · Transportation Research Part E, 2022
"Over 50% of vehicle routes can be further improved by synchronized en-route transfers…"
- Trajectory optimization for autonomous modular vehicle or platooned autonomous vehicle split operationsQ. Li, X. Li · University of Wisconsin–Madison · Transportation Research Part E, 2023
- Intelligent vehicle platooning transitC. Xie, Z. Zhang, A. Su, B. Wu · Tongji University · Communications in Transportation Research, 2024
- Intention-aware vehicle trajectory prediction based on spatial-temporal dynamic attention network for Internet of VehiclesX. Chen, H. Zhang, F. Zhao et al. · Jiangsu University · IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2022
- LiDAR-IMU SLAM framework in autonomous modular bus docking systemsY. He, G. Yushu, Y. Liu, X. Qu · South China UT · Tsinghua · Green Energy and Intelligent Transportation, 2025
- Operation and Management of Stop-less Autonomous Modular Bus Systems under Uncertainty: Joint Fleet Sizing, Dispatching, and Energy ReplenishmentY. Hu, B. Sun, M. Pei, Q. Meng · South China UT · NUS Singapore · SSRN (preprint), 2026
- New operating strategies for an on-the-road modular, electric and autonomous vehicle concept in urban transportationC. Ulrich, H. Friedrich, J. Weimer, S. Schmid · DLR (German Aerospace Center) · World Electric Vehicle Journal, 2019
"These include making optimal use of limited space, avoiding empty trips, meeting driver shortages as well as reducing costs and emissions such as CO2, particulate matter and noise."
- Bunching-proof capabilities of modular buses: an analytical assessmentX. Lin, Z. Chen, M. Li, F. He · Michigan · Tsinghua · Transportation Science, 2024
"Modular vehicles … enable in-motion passenger transfers; it can potentially increase the flexibility of the transportation system."
- Collaborative optimization of vehicle formation and timetable for modular autonomous bus considering demand uncertaintyZ. Yao, C. Fu, Y. Wu et al. · Southwest Jiaotong University · Transportation Research Part E, 2025
- Operations design of modular vehicles on an oversaturated corridor with first-in, first-out passenger queueingX. Shi, X. Li · University of South Florida · Transportation Science, 2021
- A continuous model for designing corridor systems with modular autonomous vehicles enabling station-wise dockingZ. Chen, X. Li, X. Qu · South Florida · Chalmers · Transportation Science, 2022
- Alleviating bus bunching via modular vehiclesY. Liu, Z. Chen, X. Wang · NYU Shanghai · Transportation Research Part B, 2024
- Interactive Bus Scheduling Based on Autonomous Modular Bus and Skip-Stop StrategyQ. Ma, Y. Zhang, M. Lu · Dalian Maritime · Tongji · Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A, 2026
- Improving conventional transit services with modular autonomous vehicles: A bi-level programming approachD. Huang, Z. Hu, J. Tian, R. Tu · Southeast University · Travel Behaviour and Society, 2024
- Public transport service operation with modular vehiclesJ. Yeo · NTU Singapore · Final Year Project (Bachelor), 2025
- Modular autonomous electric vehicle scheduling for customized on-demand bus servicesR. Guo, W. Guan, M. Vallati, W. Zhang · Huddersfield · Beijing Jiaotong · IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2023
"The emerging customized bus system based on modular autonomous electric vehicles (MAEVs) shows tremendous potential to improve the mobility, accessibility and environmental friendliness of a public transport system."
- Last mile passenger and freight synergistic and mobile distribution via modular autonomous vehiclesS. Zheng, Y. Liu, D. Shu, X. Han, Z. Zhou · Southwest Jiaotong University · IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2025
"By comparing it with benchmark strategies, we verified the advantages … in reducing operating costs and enhancing passenger and freight satisfaction."
- Operationalizing modular autonomous customised buses based on different demand prediction scenariosR. Guo, S. Bhatnagar, W. Guan, M. Vallati, S. Sharif Azadeh · Huddersfield · Beijing Jiaotong · Transportmetrica A, 2023
- Transfer-based customized modular bus system design with passenger-route assignment optimizationM. Gong, Y. Hu, Z. Chen, X. Li · South China UT · South Florida · Transportation Research Part E, 2021
- Multi-purpose pickup and delivery problem for combined passenger and freight transportJ. Hatzenbühler, E. Jenelius, G. Gidófalvi, O. Cats · KTH Stockholm · TU Delft · Transportation, 2024
"The required fleet size can be reduced by 35% on average when operating multi-purpose vehicles."
- Exploiting modularity for co-modal passenger-freight transportationH. Zheng, J. Li, J. Lin, Y. Nie · Tennessee · Hong Kong U · Transportation Research Part B, 2025
- Optimal vehicle scheduling and charging infrastructure planning for autonomous modular transit systemsA. Chang, Y. Cong, C. Wang, Y. Bie · Jilin University · Sustainability, 2024
"The developed method in this paper can reduce the operating costs and operational energy consumption of the route compared with the real route operating plan."
- Comparative Analysis of Energy Efficiency between Battery Electric Buses and Modular Autonomous VehiclesI. Oargă, G. Prunean, B. Ovidiu Varga, D. Moldovanu et al. · TU Cluj-Napoca · Applied Sciences, 2024
- Economic assessment of autonomous electric microtransit vehiclesA. Ongel, E. Loewer, F. Roemer et al. · TU Munich · Sustainability, 2019
"They can reduce the TCO per passenger-km up to 75% and 60% compared to their conventional counterparts and buses, respectively."
- Economic assessment of a Dynamic Autonomous Road Transit system for SingaporeS. Sun, Y. Wong, A. Rau · NTU Singapore · TU Munich · Research in Transportation Economics, 2020
"The improved operational strategy of DART service can garner higher efficiency with respective reductions of 44%, 66% and 47% in total cost of ownership (TCO), TCO/km/h and TCO/passenger."
- Dynamic Autonomous Road Transit (DART) for use-case capacity more than busA. Rau, L. Tian, M. Jain et al. · TUM CREATE Singapore · Transportation Research Procedia, 2019
"The city further aims to have sophisticated PT systems without expanding its already significantly vast road infrastructure."
- Modular autonomous vehicles' application in public transport networks: conceptual analysis on airport connectionsI. Oargă, B. Varga, D. Moldovanu et al. · TU Cluj-Napoca · Sustainability, 2024
“The results point to a significant improvement in the remaining state of charge, measuring 59% more energy stored in the MAV battery pack while carrying the same number of passengers in the same road conditions.”
- Using deficit function to determine the minimum fleet size of an autonomous modular public transit systemT. Liu, A. Ceder, A. Rau · SWJTU · University of Auckland · Transportation Research Record, 2020
- Potentials of modular autonomous vehicles for variable scenarios of public transportD. Wedler, T. Vietor · TU Braunschweig · AAET Proceedings, Springer, 2019
- Value of modularity against en-route demand uncertainty in bus servicesY. Feng, W. Liu · Hong Kong PolyU · Transportation Research Part C, 2026
- Optimizing coupling station selection and modular formation strategy for integrated passenger-freight modular busesH. Shang, J. Mao, Y. Cao, X. Chen, L. Ni · Capital UEB · Zhejiang University · Transportation Research Part C, 2026
- Network-level modular autonomous vehicle platooning and scheduling with strategic dwelling for corporate shuttle servicesC. Zhu, H. Sun, X. Guo, D. Lee · Beijing Jiaotong · Transportation Research Part C, 2026
- Customized first-and-last-mile ridesharing services with electric modular autonomous vehiclesB. Sun, Q. Meng · NUS Singapore · Transportation Research Part E, 2026
- On the Modular Platoon-based Vehicle-to-Vehicle Electric Charging ProblemZ. Fu, J. Chow · New York University · Transportation Research Record, 2026
- Joint optimization of charger deployment and vehicle scheduling for modular autonomous electric buses under a decoupling-enabled opportunity charging strategyJ. Yu, Y. Wang, J. Bi, Q. Sai, C. Lu · Beijing Jiaotong · OsloMet · Journal of Energy Storage, 2026
- Review on the modelling of modular POD-based passenger and goods transportationI. Bruijl, W. Burghout, N. Minbashi · KTH Stockholm · European Transport Research Review, 2026
- An Energy-Saving Coupling-Decoupling Optimization Strategy for Electric Modular Buses Considering Vehicle to Vehicle ChargingP. Liao, J. Guo, D. Ning, S. Li, T. Wang · Ocean University of China · Hefei UT · SAE Technical Paper, 2026
The only two entries authored by NExT: the founding paper and the patent.
The rights to the articles belong to their publishers and authors: links point to the official editions (DOI). Quotes are reproduced verbatim from the articles; omissions are marked with “…”. List updated October 2026 | the literature keeps growing.