Deutsche Post DHL set to deploy self-driving delivery trucks

Deutsche Post DHL Group, automotive supplier ZF and AI-specialist NVIDIA are working together to deploy a test fleet of autonomous delivery trucks, starting in 2018. In a statement issued by NVIDIA today (10 October), it was announce that Deutsche Post DHL  will outfit electric light trucks with the ZF ProAI self-driving system, based on NVIDIA DRIVE™ PX technology, for automating package transportation and delivery, including the “last mile” of deliveries.

Deutsche Post DHL currently has a fleet of 3,400 StreetScooter electric delivery vehicles, which can be equipped with ZF’s multiple sensors, including cameras, lidar and radar, that feed into the ZF ProAI system.

According to NVIDIA: “This can enable the vehicle to use AI to understand its environment, plan a safe path forward, proceed along a selected route and park itself — ensuring deliveries can be made with greater accuracy and safety, and at lower cost.”

By equipping current StreetScooter vehicles with ZF’s sensors, the partners will be able to gather data which can be fed into the ZF ProAI system. This is effectively teaching the AI system how to navigate along the delivery routes now, so it will be ready when the autonomous trucks start to roll out in 2018/

“Research and development of ecological, economical and efficient transportation will bring dramatic changes to the logistics industry,” said Jürgen Gerdes, member of the Board of Management at Deutsche Post AG. “Partnering with NVIDIA and ZF will enable us to responsibly support this development, benefit from it and reinforce our position as the industry´s innovation leader.”