The world's first totally independent freight transport has completed its initial delivery run. The self-driven truck startup named Otto transfers 45,000 Budweisers from Colorado Springs to a weigh station in Fort Collins.
As part of expanding its autonomous car service, Uber has acquired Otto for $700 million. The delivery operation is a joint venture with Anheuser-Busch.
Otto co-founder Lior Ron has highlighted the excitement of achieving a goal that integrates technology into an effective transportation network.
The entire trip is itself fascinating considering that the truck needs to pass through numerous highway points on its own. Although a professional driver is on hand to monitor the trip, and if necessary, to intervene with the controls, the vehicle is in command throughout the entire route. Perhaps the only time that the truck cedes driving responsibility to a human is when it has to exit the freeway.
According to co-founder Anthony Levandowski, Uber's affiliation in the trucking business is getting deeper. The acquisition is a remarkable initiative as the service group broadens its revenues. The focus on B2B and on-demand delivery operations eases somewhat the load on the gradually-congesting ride-hail market.
Otto is almost a year old but its business potential is promising. The startup founders that also include Don Burnette and Claire Delaunay are all former Google personnel who had been associated with the tech company's self-driving car program.
In contrast to Tesla's autopilot maneuvering, Otto's system is equipped with a level 4 autonomy which means that the truck can function independently up to the point of allowing its driver to catch some sleep or do paper works. Safety measures involve laser detection units between the cab and the trailer, on the bumper and above the windshield where a camera monitors.
During the group's launching last May, the immediate objective is to promote self-driving technology. Judging from the fact that technologically-driven companies are seriously into autonomous car projects, developing the blueprint into trucks is a lot quicker than incorporating it into passenger vehicles.
With the progression of on-demand logistics operation in mind, promoting the UberFreight makes sense. Uber will be pairing independent drivers with freight assignments. Aside from leasing the trucks and trailers, the service will include installing full or semi-automated hardware and software into the units.
