UPS tests self-driving articulated lorries

Autonomous driving

Marvin Meyke, 26.08.2019, 08:00

UPS tests self-driving articulated lorries

UPS Ventures, the venture capital group of UPS, has acquired a minority stake in TuSimple, a developer of autonomous vehicles. The companies are jointly testing self-driving articulated trucks on a route in Arizona.

UPS and TuSimple's autonomous truck tests are part of a technology assessment for advanced vehicles in the global UPS network. UPS is investing in the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to increase fuel efficiency and improve customer service. © UPS

In focus: Level 4 autonomous transportation

The collaboration began with the aim of helping UPS to better understand the requirements for Level 4 autonomous transportation in its network. Level 4 autonomous means that the vehicle's on-board computer is in full control at all times and manual intervention by a driver is no longer necessary. Currently, US Level 4 autonomous driving laws require that a driver is present in the vehicle at all times and can take over operations.

Test route between Phoenix and Tucson

During ongoing testing, UPS has provided truckloads of goods for TuSimple to travel a route between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The company launched the self-driving service in May with a driver and engineer in the vehicle. TuSimple and UPS monitor the distance and time within which the trucks drive themselves, as well as safety data and transportation time.

"UPS is committed to developing and deploying technologies that enable us to operate our global logistics network more efficiently," says Scott Price, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. "While fully autonomous, driverless vehicles still have development and regulatory work ahead of them, we are excited by the advances in braking and other technologies that companies like TuSimple are developing. All of these technologies offer significant benefits, including safety benefits, that will be realized long before the vision of fully autonomous vehicles is realized - and UPS will be a leader in deploying these new technologies in its fleet."

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