Page 85 - ITU Journal Future and evolving technologies Volume 2 (2021), Issue 5 – Internet of Everything
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ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 2 (2021), Issue 5




          employees  with  different  duties  in  the  logistics  chain,   In the digital context, the concepts of the physical context
          postal  of ices,  warehouses,  ports,  train  stations,  etc.   are  mapped  to  their  digital  twins.  They  are  attributed
          The  main set  of  capabilities  exhibited  by  these  objects   with capabilities of four levels:  1.  transmit information,
          is  relevant  with  handling  parcels.  Logistics  objects  are   2. receive information,  3.  react to received information
          related to organizations  for  which  they  execute  pick‑up   and  4.   exhibit  cognitive  behaviour.   Based  on  these
          and  delivery  plans.  Properties  of  the  logistics  objects   capabilities,  the  digital  concepts  of  VLO  and  CLO  are
          determine  the planning procedure.                   de ined as follows:
          In the digital context, the situation is more dynamic. Sen‑
          sors and smart devices attached to logistics objects, and   VLO de inition
          which  are  assumed  to  be  networked,  transmit  informa‑   A  Virtual  Logistics  Object  is  a  virtual  instance  (VI)  of  a
          tion about the underlying objects’ state.  The information   physical  logistics  object,  which  is  composed  by  (i)  the
          is transmitted via messages that can be sent from one vir‑   physical  logistics  object  and  (ii)  the  sensors  and  smart
          tual object to the other. The range, to which the messages   devices attached to it.
          can  be  transmitted  by  a  virtual  object,  is  de ined  by  so‑
          cial relationships, which are built and destroyed dynami‑   CLO de inition
          cally, and bear various “friendship” semantics among vir‑   A Cognitive Logistics Object is a VLO for which the follow‑
          tual  logistics  objects.  As  receptors  of  environmental  in‑   ing  hold:  (i)  the  corresponding  physical  logistics  object
          formation from the network, virtual objects can assess the   can perform at least one cargo action, (ii) it demonstrates
          state of their environment and cognitively react. Through   at least 3rd level capabilities.
          optimization  and  decision‑making  capabilities,  they  can   The  Cognitive  Logistics  Object  (CLO)  constitutes  the
          change their behaviour and suggest analogous actions to   bridge  between  the  physical  context  and  the  digital
          their  social  neighbours.  Environmental  changes  may  be   context  of  the  COG‑LO  network.  It  is  a  virtual  entity
          populated  by  other  virtual  objects  or  by  external  com‑   that corresponds to exactly one physical resource of the
          ponents  that  contribute  information  to  the  network  via   logistics  network.  For  exemplifying  the  concept,  let  us
          appropriately  formed  messages  encapsulating  external   assume a truck that transports parcels from one location
          events.                                              to another.  From the physical perspective,  according to
          The design of the data model of COG‑LO followed a top‑   our previous analysis of capabilities’ levels, it is a passive
          down approach. Based on the identi ication of actors and   object.  Nevertheless,  when  the  truck  is  equipped  with
          their  actions  in  the  logistics  setting  of  COG‑LO,  the  base   sensors measuring its weight and capacity, a GPS device
          concepts both in the physical and the digital context were   tracking  continuously  its  location,  and  we  consider  it
          de ined.  In the physical context, there are four basic data   being driven by a human with a smartphone, the perspec‑
          types de ined.  The parcel is the principal unit of interest   tive changes.  This same object is now classi ied at least
          of  logistics  services.  The  existence  of  a  parcel  in  the  lo‑   at the 3rd level of capabilities.  It can inform constantly
          gistics  chain  starts  with  an  order  placed  by  a  customer,   the network about the state of its deliveries,  it can give
          and  ends  when  the  parcel  is  delivered  to  the  recipient.   an  overview  of  the  environment  to  the  driver,  and  it
          Each  parcel  is  attributed  by  a  source  location,  a  desti‑   can  also  let  the  driver  assess  a  situation  and  resolve  it,
          nation  location,  package  dimensions  and  transportation   by  following  recommendations  sent,  or  even  by  taking
          type  (e.g.  normal,  express  etc.).  The  second  concept  is   decisions based on situational awareness provided.
          the  container.  Containers  are  placeholders  for  parcels.
          They are used to compose parcels into larger cargo units,   Each CLO is assigned with a plan.  A plan is a sequence of
          and they may be encapsulated one inside the other.  Be‑   physical actions assigned to the physical counterparts of
          sides similar attributes with parcels, containers have also   CLOs. A plan comprises an ordered set of plan steps. Each
          a capacity associated with them, and also they are related   plan  step  is  executed  at  a    ic  location  and  consists
          with  their  content,  i.e.  the  parcels  or  other  containers   of a series of cargo actions on parcels and containers:  (i)
          they may carry. Transportation means, is the concept that   loading/unloading,  (ii) packing/unpacking (i.e.,  consoli‑
          identi ies ships, trains and various types of vehicles.  Sea,   dation of parcels into containers) or (iii) customs check‑
          rail and road are the transportation modes considered in   ing. A plan step is associated with a cost estimation, which
          COG‑LO, but air transportation could be represented simi‑   is what makes a plan get selected among a set of alterna‑
          larly. Similarly to containers and parcels, there is a source   tive ones during the optimization.  Each plan is part of a
          and  destination  assigned  to  them  at  each  point  in  time,   recommendation  produced  by  the  Cognitive  Advisor.  A
          when  they  are  active  in  the  logistics  chain.  Capacity  is   recommendation is generated as a response to an envi‑
          also associated with them and is measured in units cor‑   ronmental change of COG‑LO.
          responding  to  the  amount  of  containers  or  parcels  they   The COG‑LO ontological model was de ined, following the
          can  accommodate.  Finally,  a  station  is  every  establish‑   standard approach [22]. The development of the COG‑LO
          ment  where  a  transportation  means  may  stop  and  per‑   ontology  was  performed  using  the  Web  Onotology  Lan‑
          form a cargo relevant action, that is load, unload, pack, un‑   guage (OWL) and the ontology is expressed in RDF/XML
          pack, customs’ check etc.  Such establishments are ware‑   syntax.  The data model of COG‑LO is in detail presented
          houses, ports, train stations, postal hubs and of ices, end  by the COG-LO ontological framework [23].
          customers, customs and postal boxes.



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