Hermes is taking part in an early-stage trial with Ford to make city deliveries more efficient and sustainable through the use of self-driving vehicles. The logistics provider is the first customer to do so, with Ford having launched its new “European Self-Driving Vehicle Research Programme” last week.
The two-week trial will use a specially adapted Ford commercial vehicle featuring sensors that mimic the look of an actual self-driving vehicle while enabling an experienced, hidden driver to control the vehicle. The research aims to better understand how other road users would interact with an apparently driverless delivery van.
The driver will play an entirely passive role, simply driving the vehicle. Pedestrian couriers will support the delivery van equipped with a smartphone app that lets them hail the vehicle and remotely unlock the loading door after it is safely parked at the roadside. Once inside, voice prompts and digital screens will direct the courier to the locker containing the parcels to be delivered. The research vehicles will enable Hermes to understand how its teams could work alongside driverless vehicles ensuring that business processes are able to continue safely without a driver present.
Lynsey Aston, Head of Product, Innovation and Onboarding at Hermes UK, said, “We’re excited to collaborate with Ford on this proof of concept trial, which is all about understanding the potential for autonomous vehicles and if they have a role in delivery in the longer-term future. We’re constantly innovating to incubate and then explore concepts like this, and we look forward to the initial findings, which will no doubt be useful on an industry-wide level.”
Source: Hermes UK
