An autonomous truck filled with 50,000 cans of beer has completed a 120 mile-long journey in the US, something the company behind it is claiming to be a world first.
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In an online blog post, representatives of Otto wrote that the truck hauled 51,744 cans of beer.
Uber’s self-driving technology start-up Otto has partnered with Anheuser-Busch InBev (AHBIF.PK,BUD) to complete the world’s first shipment by a self-driving truck. A professional truck driver was present the whole time, keeping an eye on things from the sleeper cabin. The truck was equipped with lidar sensors, radar, and cameras to navigate the Colorado roads, and steered, braked, and accelerated without any human help the whole trip. The Colorado Department of Transportation agreed to let the truck hit the highway with no one in the driver’s seat.
The two companies say the truck completed the route entirely without driver intervention, although a driver was in the vehicle to monitor its journey (you can find out more about the journey in the video below). And it will not be alone as other companies such as Convoy are also exploring emerging self-driving solutions.
Budweiser and Otto have teamed up in Colorado, US.
The company frames the idea this way: The trucks could stay on the road for longer periods while their drivers rest.
Last year, Daimler Trucks unveiled what it said was the world’s first licensed 18-wheel semi-tractor trailer that can drive itself.
Bhatt said the successful delivery wasn’t the only productive part of the trip.
“We think this technology is inching closer to commercial availability”, said Lior Ron, co-founder of Otto.
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With the rapidly expanding Uber self-driving cabs in the streets of United States, otto is realizing its vision as a shipping company.
