Ford has teamed up with DP World London Gateway to demonstrate how autonomous vehicles could be beneficial on large worksites.
A recent trial, which is part of Ford’s Self-Driving Research Programme, saw employees at the port load and access parcels directly to and from a simulated autonomous vehicle – without any assistance from a driver.
“It was incredible to see how enthusiastically the team at DP World embraced working with the support of a self-driving vehicle,” said Richard Balch, Director, Autonomous Vehicles and Mobility, Ford of Europe.
“We are continuing to work very closely with our customers to learn how these vehicles can benefit their businesses and it is exciting to see first-hand the impact this can have across a diverse range of locations.
“What worked so well at DP World premises could equally be of benefit at universities, airports and manufacturing facilities.”
For the trial, Ford used a specially adapted Transit fitted out to mimic the look of an actual self-driving vehicle with a driver concealed within a “human car seat”.
Employees at the company’s reception building loaded packages into secure lockers in the rear of the Transit.
Then, at set delivery times, the Transit travelled to the main reception so that colleagues there could retrieve them.
Usually, staff retrieve packages from reception themselves. While time consuming, these trips do not warrant a full-time driver.
Every step of the process was monitored by researchers who also conducted interviews with those who took part, before, during and after the trial.
They found that employees quickly became comfortable with using the specially equipped van.
