Exploring Multi-Agent Systems for Intermodal Freight Fleets: Literature-based Justification of a New Concept

Freight transportation is increasingly connected with the automation of fleet assets by intelligent systems. This study emerges from the consortium research project Gaia-X 4 ROMS, which aims to develop a comprehensive approach for smart freight fleets in the field of parcel deliveries. Within this project, a novel type of multi-agent system (MAS) applied to freight fleet management is being developed. To determine the state of prior research and recent developments in this field, a systematic literature review was conducted and presented herein. The findings of the review demonstrate a significant lack of applied solutions in this topic, highlighting the need for a novel approach. Accordingly, a first framework for the envisioned multi-agent system, as conceptualized within the consortium research project, is presented in this work, serving as a basis for subsequent design phases