Ford said it was working with Postmates, an on-demand delivery platform, to trial a self-driving delivery service vehicle ahead of the launch of a purpose-built self-driving vehicle due in three years.
“Research vehicles for our business pilots are designed to appear as self-driving, however, they are manually driven by an experienced driver. The focus of our research is on the first and last mile of the delivery experience. We are developing our self-driving technology in separate test vehicles,” the automaker said.
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The Postmates pilot is currently underway in Miami and Miami Beach, Florida, with over 70 firms participating, including a food outlet called Coyo Taco.
Residents in the area ordering anything through Postmates may be given the option to have the items delivered by a self-driving research vehicle.
When a meal is ready to be delivered, a restaurant employee will place it in the vehicle.
A specially designed Transit Connect used for this pilot programme has a locker system to secure food and allow the vehicle to serve multiple customers on one delivery route. Additionally, services like Postmates must also deliver an assortment of products from sushi restaurants to hardware stores. Therefore, the rear and passenger-side lockers are different sizes to allow Ford to test optimal vehicle configuration.
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By GlobalData“Ultimately, we are testing how businesses and consumers interact with a self-driving vehicle,” the automaker said.
After the restaurant employee types an access code into the screen, one of the lockers will automatically open so that the food can be placed inside. Each locker has two cup holders to keep drinks from spilling.
When the vehicle arrives at its destination, the customer receives a text notification indicating the delivery is ready for pickup.
Upon meeting the vehicle at the curb, customers enter an access code into the touch screen and the appropriate locker will open. Audio prompts direct the interaction and lights will illuminate the designated locker. Interactions with the vehicle are intended to be as easy as possible through various built-in sensory technologies.
It’s Ford’s first self-driving research vehicle modified specifically to test a variety of interfaces – the touch screen, the locker system, the external audio system – to help refine the design of the purpose-built self-driving vehicle due in 2021.
“Ultimately, through our partnership with Postmates, we’re testing methods for efficient deliveries to help local businesses expand their reach and provide a seamless experience to customers,” Ford said.
See also: Domino’s and Ford combine for driverless pizza delivery test
