Logistics becoming automation leader

By Colin Windell 

Last mile delivery is being targeted for automation to help with complex logistics and smoother operation

ZF technology supporting autonomous deliveries over the last mile

In ever-increasingly congested cities, last mile deliveries – from the warehouse to the store – are posing more complex logistics problems for trucking companies and require a new look at solutions.

The logistics industry is overtaking the passenger car sector when it comes to the automation of driving functions and ZF is supporting this trend with new concepts and investments.

For example, commercial vehicles that are intelligently connected thanks to production-ready ZF technology and equipped with autonomous driving functions capable of independently performing all logistics tasks or assisting package delivery drivers.

Autonomous delivery trucks will make package deliveries along the ‘last mile’ more efficient – which will in the future help to deal with rising delivery volumes while reducing traffic in city centres. E-mobility and autonomous driving are strategically very important for ZF and the company intends to invest more thanR204-billion in these areas over the next five years
  
Wolf-Henning Scheider, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, says: “We are revolutionising the 'last mile' so packages can be delivered more cleanly, safely and on time. For this reason, we are working together with partners and customers further to develop our concept ready for series production within the next two years.
 
"In order to quickly offer the market our systems expertise in the form of innovative and practical solutions, we will be investing heavily in e-mobility and autonomous driving alone over the next five years.”
 
ZF’s Innovation Van has demonstrated how intelligent networking, autonomous driving and an all-electric drive support parcel delivery services in meeting the requirements of the future – especially the rising delivery volumes and the demand for individual delivery.

At the same time, such vehicles will also help to reduce emissions and traffic in city centres. This approach has attracted interest within the industry.

Scheider added: “We are already in concrete negotiations with several customers.” ZF’s Innovation Van is based on its high-speed super computer ZF ProAI, as well as its sensor set consisting of camera, radar and lidar.”
 
The all-electric delivery truck is equipped with level 4 autonomous driving functions and is designed to independently manoeuvre through city centres, stay in its lane even if without road markings, recognise both traffic lights and road signs and react to sudden hazardous situations. In addition, the Innovation Van can detect and drive around obstacles such as double-parked vehicles.

The FollowMe function – which utilises a tablet-based remote control –is particularly helpful for drivers. If two addresses are close enough that it makes more sense for the delivery driver to stay on foot, the Innovation Van will follow the driver as if on a virtual leash. In addition, if there is no parking available at a certain address, the driver can send the vehicle ahead to the next stop where it will look for a parking space on its own. This will also help to avoid traffic jams in future caused by delivery trucks which are often double-parked.
 
The Terminal Yard Tractor can autonomously manoeuvre swap bodies, trailers and containers. The driverless, manoeuvrable vehicle functions improve efficiency, speed and environmental-friendliness at depots, company terminal yards and container ports. On top of that, they can help to reduce accidents and property damage. Lastly, such vehicles can also help address the constantly growing shortage of skilled workers in the logistics industry.
 
“Driverless transport vehicles and automated functions will play a significant role particularly in zoned areas like company terminal yards, forwarding company depots or air and sea ports,” says Scheider. “In the near future, we will be seeing more autonomous vehicles in such zoned areas faster than on public roads. The cost, safety and efficiency benefits for customers will make a difference here.”