Maybe Google only thought about the future of personal transportation when it started developing its self-driving cars, but with various car makers taking autonomous driving technology to a whole new level in recent years, it becomes quite clear that it might well find its way into commercial transport, as well. Recently, Mercedes-Benz introduced a self-driving truck concept, that could hit the road in about 10 years, and could help bring about immense improvements in traffic safety and reduce carbon emissions, and a couple of months ago, Walmart unveiled an all-electric tractor trailer concept that also has autonomous driving features.
The potential possibilities of practical application of autonomous vehicle technology in the commercial transport business were the topic of interest for logistics company DHL’s trend research center for its latest trend report. DHL did a study on the potential uses and implications of self-driving vehicles in the logistics industry, and found that this technology could fundamentally change package delivery. In the report, DHL outlines four main areas where driverless vehicles could be used and help logistics companies be more efficient and cut costs: warehousing operations, outdoor logistics operations, line haul transportation, and last-mile delivery.
One of the most significant implications of driverless cars on logistics has to do with loading and transport. DHL says that autonomous vehicles can help make the loading and unloading process much more efficient and safer. Since self-driving cars are equipped with lasers and sensors to monitor their surroundings, they can successfully navigate through warehouses and avoid hitting other moving objects or workers, keeping warehouse workers injury-free and preventing costly damages. The report cites a couple of examples where autonomous vehicles are integrated into the loading and unloading process, such as the KARIS PRO System in Germany, with a series of self-driving vehicles are connected to a conventional vehicle, creating a conveyor system, or the Open Shuttle system, which employs autonomous cars for picking containers up and transporting them, that are controlled through laser navigation technology.
When it comes to outdoor logistics operations, DHL says that employing self-driving cars can help resolve one of the most troubling issues logistics companies face – congestion in yards, with pedestrians and various machines that make it difficult for workers, trucks and other vehicles to maneuver. Autonomous vehicles can move transport items by themselves, increasing safety in the yard environment.
The study concludes with a couple of predictions as to how autonomous driving technology will continue to develop in the future, noting a few aspects that need to be improved, such as the algorithms that predict the movement of other vehicles and pedestrians, as well as digital maps, that DHL says could be much more precise.
The bottom line is that the logistics industry could benefit greatly from autonomous vehicles, and when the world’s largest logistics company says that self-driving cars are the future of transportation, it will only be a matter of time before other companies in the industry embrace the idea and start implementing the technology.