Lidl supermarket company (Lidl) is innovatively using a cabinless autonomous truck for daily goods transportation in collaboration with Einride. This truck, recognized as the first cabinless autonomous truck in Germany, has received a unique license from the Federal Motor Transport Authority of Germany (KBA).
Impact of the New License on the Transport Industry
This autonomous truck, specifically designed and built by Einride, has received a license from the German transport regulatory body, known as one of the most stringent approval processes in the world. This success is a significant honor for Einride and a crucial step in the development of autonomous logistics.
Lidl, one of the largest supermarket chains in Germany, is now utilizing this autonomous truck in its daily operations. The truck currently transports goods between a logistics center and a store in Edermunde, carrying an average of about 45 pallets of goods per shift.
Challenges and Future Plans
Despite significant advancements, the route of the autonomous truck is less than a mile long, and the store is located next to the warehouse. Einride has announced that the next phase of expansion will include multiple stations in a "micron model".
This initiative not only addresses the issues of commercial driver shortages but also ensures the flow of goods from warehouses to stores. With the deployment of the first cabinless truck in Germany, Einride is negotiating with the Swarz Group, the owner of Lidl, to explore the possibility of deploying more autonomous trucks.
The Einride autonomous truck operates without a driver and safety supervisor, but its movements are monitored by a human operator remotely. This operator cannot drive the vehicle but can intervene in specific situations and at low speeds (up to 4 miles per hour) to facilitate docking operations and special maneuvers.
This truck, manufactured by a contract producer in the Netherlands, is equipped with a comprehensive set of sensors, including nine external cameras, six radars, and four lidars.
