Just days after the world welcomed the year 2022, Ziegler Group announced they had ordered ten autonomous electric delivery vehicles from Udelv. And just like that, Ziegler, the EU-based logistics operator signalled their commitment to pioneering a technology that will forever alter the daily lives of future generations.
With more than a decade of research and testing behind them, some of the world’s largest tech and automotive companies have poured billions of dollars into the development of hardware and software needed for autonomous vehicles (AVs) to become a reality.
EU governmental authorities, Germany, France and Belgium are at the forefront of legislation to allow AVs onto public roads, but there is still much to be done.
Ziegler’s order is part of the next stage of the process – further real-world development by the companies that will actually use the technology for their unique business requirements and local environments.
Public opinion regarding self-driving vehicles has been mixed since before the first test vehicles started driving on public roads. The range of sentiments is perfectly understandable. Even positive changes require adjustment to the status quo.
However, as the technology has matured, and researchers have been able to study the impact that self-driving vehicles will have on society, the reasons to pursue adoption continue to increase.
AVs represent more than just self-driving cars. They are part of a broader shift away from congestion, pollution, and shrinking urban space. They represent just one avenue to open up new possibilities for society, individuals and our environment.
This vision for the potential of AVs is reflected in Ziegler Group’s own dedication to pursuing technology and practices that are more efficient and eco-friendly.
“Similar to our current Cargo Bike project that is making deliveries in vehicle-restricted areas of Brussels,” explained Diane Govaerts, Ziegler Group CEO. “The Transporter – Udelv’s autonomous driving and electric, cab-less delivery vehicle – is another step in exploring new possibilities for less intrusive and more ecologically-friendly last-mile deliveries in crowded urban centres.”
Researchers believe that the majority of vehicles sold after 2050 will be driverless. The implications of that change will affect society and especially urban environments in many positive ways.
In practice, autonomous delivery vehicles can slot in and complement existing supply chains for last-mile deliveries, and provide unique benefits, especially when used in congested European cities.
Driverless vehicles are already safer than when operated by a driver. According to studies, AVs could reduce road fatalities by 90%. [source]
Human drivers have blind spots and a limited point of view. They can get distracted and have varying emotional responses to take into account when on the road.
Compare that with a self-driving vehicle. Using redundant visual and sensor systems to monitor its surroundings in every direction every millisecond, an AV is always being improved due to the continual input of data from other AVs.
The Transporters produced by Udelv are fully electric, contributing to a cleaner environment and less noise pollution. Their relatively compact size makes for less impact on roads, especially the narrow historic streets of Europe’s city centres.
“This is a major step towards a sustainable fleet of commercial vehicles for Ziegler Group,” said Diane Govaerts, Ziegler Group CEO.
Right now there is a massive shortage of qualified drivers, so AVs can help cope with that issue. And the Transporters are intended only for last-mile deliveries.
Once put into the field, they still require a remote operator to monitor them at all times and intervene if necessary (for example during docking). Long haul transport will still be performed by Ziegler’s trained drivers.
Udelv’s Transporters are the world’s first middle- and last-mile electric cabless autonomous delivery vehicles dedicated to multi-stop delivery. Featuring Level 4 autonomy, the Transporters use Mobileye technology – an Intel company that specializes in autonomous vehicles.
The vehicle senses and interprets its environment using a camera-centric configuration. Using a robust system that can drive solely based on cameras allows us to pinpoint the critical safety segments for which redundancy from radar and Lidar is required.
As far as making deliveries seamless and secure, adjustable compartments in the vehicle hold goods destined for different customers.
Between trips, the compartments can conform to whatever sizes are needed for the cargo being carried.
However, even with all these capabilities, when the first Transporter arrives at Ziegler’s headquarters in Brussels, it will not be making deliveries on public roads right away.
This will be the beginning of a rigorous testing and development process that Ziegler Group will undertake with the oversight and input of government agencies and research groups that deal with transport topics and regulations. Some of these include the Vrije University of Brussels (VUB), Innoviris, the Brussels Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Transport, and the Traffic Safety Research Institute (VIAS).
Many steps will be required before a Transporter is allowed on a public road. But this commitment is what is required to pioneer technology that has the potential to deliver goods more efficiently while making our roads safer and our cities less congested.
As Ziegler Group explores the possibilities and benefits of AVs for last-mile deliveries, you can follow the journey.
We will be sharing insights from our partners and experiences in upcoming articles and video conversations. So stay tuned. This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of distribution and transport.
