Now this is some sobering stuff. In a recent announcement, Anheuser-Busch announced that it has fielded an automated big rig, controlled by software from Uber’s Otto, that this week successfully hauled a fully loaded trailer of Budweiser beer more than 120 miles on I-25 from Fort Collins, Colorado through Denver, to Colorado Springs.
The state of Colorado signed on to the project a while back, the beverage giant said, including requiring that a professional truck driver was in the vehicle for the entire route, monitoring the delivery from the sleeper berth as the truck completed the highway portion of the route, exit-to-exit, with no driver interventions. The load originated at Anheuser-Busch’s facility in Loveland, Colorado and departed for its journey from the Fort Collins, Colorado weigh station. This milestone marks the first time in history that a self-driving vehicle has shipped commercial cargo, making it a landmark achievement for self-driving technology, the state of Colorado, and the transportation industry.
“The incredible success of this pilot shipment is an example of what is possible when you deploy self-driving technology. It also showcases the importance of collaboration with forward-looking states like Colorado and innovative companies like Anheuser-Busch,” said Lior Ron, Co-Founder, Otto. “By embracing this technology, both organizations are actively contributing to the creation of a safer and more efficient transportation network. We are excited to have reached this milestone together, and look forward to further rolling out our technology on the nation’s highways.”
Otto, which was acquired by Uber in August, said its vision for the self-driving technology is to transform the supply chain industry by:
- Reducing fatalities on the road, where 94 percent of accidents are caused by human error.
- Making driving more fuel-efficient in order to reduce emissions from freight trucks.
- Increasing efficiency in truck schedules and addressing the driver shortage.
“Anheuser-Busch is passionate about innovation and exploring ways to improve the safety, sustainability, and efficiency of the industries our business touches,” said James Sembrot, Sr. Director, Logistics Strategy, Anheuser-Busch. “We admire Otto’s vision that will shape the future of self-driving transportation. As we continue to partner with long-haul carriers to ship our beers, we hope to see this technology widely deployed across our highways to improve safety for all road users and work towards a low-emissions future.”
One major opportunity for Otto’s technology is that drivers will be able to rest during long stretches of highway, and perhaps even catch up on sleep.
“Teaming with Otto to deploy self-driving technology on the roads of Colorado is a monumental step forward in advancing safety solutions that will help Colorado move towards zero deaths on our roads,” said Shailen Bhatt, Executive Director, DoT, State of Colorado. “Colorado will continue to focus on working with Otto and others on how to safely deploy this technology on our roads.”
Check out a video of the trip here.
Edited by
Alicia Young
