Ikea has teamed up with Kodiak Robotics, an organization that is engaged on self-driving expertise for long-haul trucking, to check driverless deliveries from its warehouses. Since August this yr, an autonomous heavy-duty Kodiak truck has been delivering furnishings from an Ikea distribution middle close to Houston to a retail retailer close to Dallas each single day. Whereas the truck has a backup driver behind the wheel who’s in control of choosing up the loaded trailer and of overseeing the supply, the truck runs autonomously over lengthy stretches of freeway throughout its 300-mile, one-way journey.
With this partnership, Ikea is hoping to have a greater grasp of how autonomous deliveries could make long-haul journeys safer and will result in higher working situations for truck drivers. Whereas Kodiak’s vehicles aren’t electrical, it is value noting {that a} earlier examine by the UC San Diego (PDF) utilizing one other firm’s autos present that autonomous vehicles are round 10 p.c extra environment friendly than their conventional counterparts. In response to Forbes, the 2 firms agreed to a three-month pilot program, but when all of it goes properly, they may signal a multi-year deal that may cater to a variety of Ikea shops and warehouses.
The Swedish house furnishings model additionally embraced different forms of technological advances over the previous few months. In June, it launched a brand new AI-powered app that may scan rooms utilizing LIDAR in order that it might probably create 3D replicas you’ll be able to design with Ikea furnishings. It additionally made EV house owners really feel extra welcome by signing a deal to set up Electrify America’s quick chargers in additional than 25 of its shops within the US.
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