Emerging Minds Journal for Student Research

Optimized Vehicle Routing Problem for The Last Mile E-Commerce Parcels Delivery Using E-Cargo Bikes

2025-02-23T01:36:43+03:00

This research addresses the Optimized Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) for last-mile e-commerce parcel delivery using e-cargo bikes in a Central London case study setting. The primary objective is to enhance delivery routing efficiency, and reduce operational costs, competition time, and carbon footprints through the application of the Evolutionary Algorithm using the Excel Solver. With the rise of e-commerce, efficient last-mile delivery has become increasingly important to ensure customer satisfaction and sustainability. As an alternative, electric cargo bikes offer promising benefits, capable of navigating congested areas and providing eco-friendly delivery solutions since traditional delivery methods face challenges such as traffic congestion, high fuel costs, and significant carbon emissions. The research begins with a comprehensive literature review, highlighting the various VRP variants and their applications in urban logistics. Existing studies have primarily focused on optimization techniques for conventional vehicles, with limited attention to e-cargo bikes. This study fills that gap by developing the Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) Mathematical Model specifically for e-cargo bike routes, considering factors such as vehicle capacity, delivery time windows, and distance minimization. Four different scenarios were tested to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Data for this research was meticulously collected from e-commerce delivery records, urban traffic conditions, and geographical information pertinent to central London's delivery routes. The evolutionary algorithm was implemented to generate and iteratively improve upon feasible routing solutions by setting different parameters of population sizes and mutation rates which led to minimizing the total distance traveled and associated costs. Consequently, the best-optimized routes resulted a substantial reduction in daily logistics costs, from £141 to £112 which reduced the traveling distances from 65.176 km to 29.810 km which underscores the economic viability of e-cargo bikes for last-mile delivery. The research also highlights the substantial potential of e-cargo bikes to lower CO2 emissions, contributing to more sustainable urban logistics. The findings support the integration of e-cargo bikes as a viable alternative to traditional delivery vehicles, promoting both environmental benefits and daily operational efficiency, particularly in metropolitan areas like Central London. This study provides a foundational understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with e-cargo bikes in last-mile delivery, paving the way for further advancements in sustainable urban logistics.

The Characterisation and Application of High Temperature Silica Yarns as Thermoluminescence Radiation Dosimeters

2025-02-23T01:36:40+03:00

There is a growing number of applications where ionizing radiation is used and for this reason its detection is of great importance. One way of measuring the absorbed dose is by thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD). In this, a phosphor is employed to record ionizing radiation. A suitable technique is then used to thermally extract this information to determine the radiation dose the phosphor was exposed to. TLDs are usually inexpensive and physically small which makes them ideal to use in both personal and environmental dosimetry. These devices are well researched but have drawbacks such as a high processing cost and not being able to detect overall dose received by wearer since they only cover small part of person’s body. This leads to a lower than actual dose readings when dosimeter is, for instance, shielded by another material during radiation
exposure. In this project a silica yarn was explored to determine its suitability in dosimetry use. This material has promising applications in both, personal and environmental dosimetry because of its physical flexibility. This can be utilized for innovative applications such as development of a dosimeter in the form of clothing. The primary goal was characterization of the relationship between irradiation of the material by a known dose and its subsequent reading by the process of thermoluminescence (TL). Correlation factor of 0.9 was found which confirms usability of silica yarn for TL dosimetry. Further work is proposed to develop a custom made reader for fabric type phosphors in order to achieve accurate detection of absorbed dose.

The History of Superparamagnetic Materials and Their Future in Cancer Therapy

2025-03-11T21:13:43+03:00

Superparamagnetism, is a form of magnetism exhibited by small ferromagnetic nanoparticles and challenges conventional magnetic behaviours observed in larger particles. Whereby as particle size decreases, thermal fluctuations gain prominence, leading to the random reorientation of magnetic moments at a critical threshold, known as the superparamagnetic threshold. This article aims to explore superparamagnetic materials' historical evolution and current state, emphasising their technological and medical applications. Starting with Louis Néel's foundational work in 1949, introduced the concept of superparamagnetism, to where superparamagnetic materials have found a promising application in cancer treatment. And their ability to be guided by external magnetic fields facilitates targeted drug delivery, offering precise manipulation for localised therapy.