Automated Supply Chains
I travelled to Europe recently and met up with autonomous trial project staff (humans I think) to find out how the UK trials are progressing.
It is no secret that in the UK and Europe there are many trails are underway for autonomous cars, autonomous busses and autonomous taxis. Even Uber has joined hands to start the autonomous Uber ride share and also a food delivery service.
All of these trials are looking successful in providing various results. At a minimum the UK is now is a good space to start legislative changes to allow autonomous vehicles of many kinds on the roads.
1. Autonomous Trucks on the German autobahn, driving all the way to the coast, over the channel on a ferry and onto the UK soil. Following interesting findings that have shown the highest concentration of people, industry and money across Europe. (http://i1.wp.com/globalriskinsights.com) Trials are well underway to increase supply chains throughout this logistics base.
3. Autonomous transportation couriers. In Germany and Switzerland a number of exciting trials are happening around parcel delivery.
2. Autonomous trail trucks, 4 or 5 semi-trailers following a driven truck, each mimicking the first. This trial is providing remarkable success through cars cutting in, traffic lights and alike.
Mercedes Electric Robot-VAN Delivering Packages In Germany
Swiss Post is already testing self-driving delivery robots
Switzerland have proposed an underground logistics network to be established by 2030. These underground lanes will use a network of underground “pod trains”
Many of these trials have now got UK representation so that they can be extended with ease into England.
Last year on the 6th August, after one of the largest strikes on the London Underground network, the tube lines came to a scary halt. In a city where 66% of the 8.6M people use the tube (for 1.27B journeys a year) it cost the London economy $600M. FOR ONE DAY! So should tube drivers be able to hold a city to ransom? Is this a prime case for autonomous train drivers? Plans are already underway on to roll out autonomous trains on the Piccadilly, Central, Waterloo & City and Bakerloo lines by 2022. Maybe this will now be brought forward a lot faster so that technology can get you to your destination. Well that is the plan, but will it deliver you on time or at all?
Let me know your thoughts.
David Camus
LKT Consulting
