The MACB Problem: Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach

Danai Papamaximou; Rongge Guo; Francesco Percassi; Mauro Vallati

doi:10.5220/0014230600004052

The MACB Problem: Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach

Danai Papamaximou, Rongge Guo, Francesco Percassi, Mauro Vallati

Beijing Jiaotong University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Modular Autonomous Customised Bus Systems (MACB) promise to significantly enhance public transport attractiveness and accessibility, leading to improved quality of life and reduced emissions. Compared to traditional bus systems, MACB provides a problem that poses a new set of challenges, ranging from the allocation of vehicles to the optimisation of routes and recharges. The MACB problem is attracting increasing interest within the transport research community, but it presents characteristics and dimensions that lend themselves well to approaches based on planning and combinatorial search. In this paper, with the aim of bridging the gap between different research communities, we provide a crisp definition of the MACB problem and present a planning-based approach to solve a specific variant of the problem, together with a set of benchmarks to foster research on this topic.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence
Subtitle of host publication	Volume 2
Editors	Ana Paula Rocha, Mattias Wahde, H. Japp van den Herik
Publisher	SciTePress
Pages	1157-1165
Number of pages	9
Volume	2
ISBN (Print)	9789897587962
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5220/0014230600004052
Publication status	Published - 5 Mar 2026
Event	18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence - Marbella, Spain Duration: 5 Mar 2026 → 7 Mar 2026 https://icaart.scitevents.org/

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART)
Publisher	SciTePress
ISSN (Print)	2184-433X

Conference

Conference	18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence
Abbreviated title	ICAART 2026
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Marbella
Period	5/03/26 → 7/03/26
Internet address	https://icaart.scitevents.org/

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10.5220/0014230600004052Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

Papamaximou, D., Guo, R., Percassi, F., & Vallati, M. (2026). The MACB Problem: Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach. In A. P. Rocha, M. Wahde, & H. J. van den Herik (Eds.), Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence : Volume 2 (Vol. 2, pp. 1157-1165). (Proceedings of International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART)). SciTePress. https://doi.org/10.5220/0014230600004052

Papamaximou, Danai ; Guo, Rongge ; Percassi, Francesco et al. / The MACB Problem : Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence : Volume 2. editor / Ana Paula Rocha ; Mattias Wahde ; H. Japp van den Herik. Vol. 2 SciTePress, 2026. pp. 1157-1165 (Proceedings of International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART)).

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abstract = "Modular Autonomous Customised Bus Systems (MACB) promise to significantly enhance public transport attractiveness and accessibility, leading to improved quality of life and reduced emissions. Compared to traditional bus systems, MACB provides a problem that poses a new set of challenges, ranging from the allocation of vehicles to the optimisation of routes and recharges. The MACB problem is attracting increasing interest within the transport research community, but it presents characteristics and dimensions that lend themselves well to approaches based on planning and combinatorial search. In this paper, with the aim of bridging the gap between different research communities, we provide a crisp definition of the MACB problem and present a planning-based approach to solve a specific variant of the problem, together with a set of benchmarks to foster research on this topic. ",

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Papamaximou, D, Guo, R, Percassi, F & Vallati, M 2026, The MACB Problem: Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach. in AP Rocha, M Wahde & HJ van den Herik (eds), Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence : Volume 2. vol. 2, Proceedings of International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART), SciTePress, pp. 1157-1165, 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence, Marbella, Spain, 5/03/26. https://doi.org/10.5220/0014230600004052

The MACB Problem: Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach. / Papamaximou, Danai; Guo, Rongge; Percassi, Francesco et al.
Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence : Volume 2. ed. / Ana Paula Rocha; Mattias Wahde; H. Japp van den Herik. Vol. 2 SciTePress, 2026. p. 1157-1165 (Proceedings of International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART)).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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PY - 2026/3/5

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AB - Modular Autonomous Customised Bus Systems (MACB) promise to significantly enhance public transport attractiveness and accessibility, leading to improved quality of life and reduced emissions. Compared to traditional bus systems, MACB provides a problem that poses a new set of challenges, ranging from the allocation of vehicles to the optimisation of routes and recharges. The MACB problem is attracting increasing interest within the transport research community, but it presents characteristics and dimensions that lend themselves well to approaches based on planning and combinatorial search. In this paper, with the aim of bridging the gap between different research communities, we provide a crisp definition of the MACB problem and present a planning-based approach to solve a specific variant of the problem, together with a set of benchmarks to foster research on this topic.

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Papamaximou D, Guo R, Percassi F, Vallati M. The MACB Problem: Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach. In Rocha AP, Wahde M, van den Herik HJ, editors, Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence : Volume 2. Vol. 2. SciTePress. 2026. p. 1157-1165. (Proceedings of International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART)). doi: 10.5220/0014230600004052

The MACB Problem: Definitions, Variants, and a PDDL+ Approach

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