Abstract: The operation simulation and evaluation of autonomous delivery vehicles constitutes the basis of theoretical research in this field, and is conducive to the high-quality ground operation of autonomous delivery vehicles. In this paper, the development status of autonomous delivery vehicle technology is first outlined, as well as domestic and international management norms for the safe operation of autonomous delivery vehicles. The driving characteristics of autonomous delivery vehicles and the operation characteristics of delivery services are then analysed, and the current status and shortcomings of the technology testing of autonomous delivery vehicles, the simulation method of operation impact testing and the network simulation method of autonomous delivery vehicles, and finally put forward the evaluation indexes of the operation and evaluation of autonomous delivery vehicles and the future research direction. The current study shows that: (1) the existing autonomous delivery vehicle operation simulation technology lacks unified authoritative management specification documents; (2) There are fewer simulation studies on the operational impact test of autonomous delivery vehicles. (3) The research on the operational characteristics of autonomous delivery vehicles is not deep enough, and there is a lack of planning for actual scenarios. (4) Drawing on the road service level evaluation index, it is more appropriate to adopt the average speed change rate and the average density change rate as the evaluation index of the impact of autonomous delivery vehicle placement.

Key words: urban transportation, autonomous delivery vehicles, placement strategy, operation simulation, operation evaluation