arXiv subjects

Vishwanath Bulusu

Publications and source records attributed to Vishwanath Bulusu.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Dynamic Lane Allocation in UAM Corridors for Efficient Multimodal Door-to-Door Mobility

This article presents dynamic directional lane allocation in urban air mobility (UAM) corridors as a discrete-time mixed-integer linear program (MILP). This formulation activates, deactivates, and reverses lane direction as bi-directional airspace demand evolves. We model demand from disaggregate ground travel data by decomposing each trip into a multi-modal sequence with first-, middle-, and last-mile legs and routing the UAM-served middle-mile segment through a vertiport-side dispatch model. We use the San Francisco Bay Area as a case study by placing a multi-region spanning corridor between Contra Costa county and Silicon Valley. We find that the dynamic policy cuts unused airspace capacity by 5x, increases mean lane utilization from 36-48% to 67% at the same service level relative to baselines, and reduces commuting-population mean travel time by up to 21.6%. These results show that dynamic configuration of airspace capacity alleviates a significant percentage of the under-utilization issue of lane-based UAM airspace design and UAM concept of operations. This dynamic allocation also provides a safe, structural way to increase throughput, making UAM a more viable complement to multimodal door-to-door mobility systems.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2023

Evaluating eVTOL Network Performance and Fleet Dynamics through Simulation-Based Analysis

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) represents a promising solution for future transportation. In this study, we introduce VertiSim, an advanced event-driven simulator developed to evaluate e-VTOL transportation networks. Uniquely, VertiSim simultaneously models passenger, aircraft, and energy flows, reflecting the interrelated complexities of UAM systems. We utilized VertiSim to assess 19 operational scenarios serving a daily demand for 2,834 passengers with varying fleet sizes and vertiport distances. The study aims to support stakeholders in making informed decisions about fleet size, network design, and infrastructure development by understanding tradeoffs in passenger delay time, operational costs, and fleet utilization. Our simulations, guided by a heuristic dispatch and charge policy, indicate that fleet size significantly influences passenger delay and energy consumption within UAM networks. We find that increasing the fleet size can reduce average passenger delays, but this comes at the cost of higher operational expenses due to an increase in the number of repositioning flights. Additionally, our analysis highlights how vertiport distances impact fleet utilization: longer distances result in reduced total idle time and increased cruise and charge times, leading to more efficient fleet utilization but also longer passenger delays. These findings are important for UAM network planning, especially in balancing fleet size with vertiport capacity and operational costs. Simulator demo is available at: https://tinyurl.com/vertisim-vis

cs.MA↗

arXiv2023

Simulating the Integration of Urban Air Mobility into Existing Transportation Systems: A Survey

Urban air mobility (UAM) has the potential to revolutionize transportation in metropolitan areas, providing a new mode of transportation that could alleviate congestion and improve accessibility. However, the integration of UAM into existing transportation systems is a complex task that requires a thorough understanding of its impact on traffic flow and capacity. In this paper, we conduct a survey to investigate the current state of research on UAM in metropolitan-scale traffic using simulation techniques. We identify key challenges and opportunities for the integration of UAM into urban transportation systems, including impacts on existing traffic patterns and congestion; safety analysis and risk assessment; potential economic and environmental benefits; and the development of shared infrastructure and routes for UAM and ground-based transportation. We also discuss the potential benefits of UAM, such as reduced travel times and improved accessibility for underserved areas. Our survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on UAM in metropolitan-scale traffic using simulation and highlights key areas for future research and development.

cs.RO↗