Alongside passenger transport, the future of autonomous vehicles also appears to be taking shape in deliveries. And Ikea, known for its kit furniture, may be one of the first to take the plunge and switch to this new delivery method. In Texas, the company is testing product delivery with driverless trucks. Every day since August, a self-contained heavy truck transports furniture from one of Ikea’s warehouses in Houston to its store near Dallas.
The journey amounts to just over 480 kilometers. A driver is aboard the vehicle to take control when needed, especially when towing and supervising the delivery. However, the truck drives well on its own for most of the highway trip.
A three month pilot project
For this test phase, Ikea collaborated with Kodiak Robotics, a company specializing in autonomous driving technologies for long-distance road transport. The test is mainly aimed at understanding the ways in which autonomous deliveries could make long journeys safer. It is also about improving the quality of life of motorists who will be able to focus more on city driving.
“Together with IKEA, we can improve safety, improve working conditions for drivers and create a more sustainable freight transport system”said Don Burnette, CEO of Kodiak Robotics.
This pilot project will initially last three months. If successful, a multi-year contract could be signed with Ikea and Kodiak Robotics. The Swedish company could indeed extend autonomous delivery to more American warehouses and stores.
Involve
