Work

Multitimescale diffusion in ridepooling dynamics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Diffusion processes and random walks describe the dynamics of systems subject to many unpredictable external influences. Here, we show how trajectories of individual ridepooling vehicles are characterized by a novel type of persistent random walk with a preplanned future route. We find three distinct timescales that reflect short- and long-term alignment and medium-term detours emerging in the routing dynamics, together inducing ballistic, subdiffusive, and diffusive motions of the vehicles. The diffusion constant links the timescales underlying the microscopic dynamics of the routes to macroscopic system parameters such as fleet size and effective demand. Observables quantifying the service quality of ridepooling collapse to a single scaling function of the diffusion constant, directly connecting microscopic timescales to macroscopic properties of system operations.

Source: Physical Review Research

DOI: 10.1103/bjqt-5vkq

Authors: Philip Marszal, Nora Molkenthin, Marc Timme, Malte Schröder

Institutions: Technische Universität Dresden, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Lakeside Labs

Language: English

Topic: Transportation and Mobility Innovations

Subfield: Automotive Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,625