By the end of 2021, Argo AI plans to begin last-mile deliveries for Walmart using automated Ford Escapes in Miami, Austin and Washington DC
A robust cloud platform that enables partners to summon vehicles quickly to do a task and then move on can go a long way to achieving that high utilization. ArgoWatch is intended to enable this capability, much like the Uber and Lyft platforms do currently in connecting human drivers with either passengers or businesses that need products delivered.
Argo will be using the same fleet of vehicles for the Lyft and Walmart operations so it’s possible that one of the Ford Escape hybrids could drop off a passenger, be summoned to a nearby Walmart where it will be loaded with an order to deliver and then go to pick up another passenger for a ride.
According to Cynthia Kwon, VP of strategy and business development at Argo AI, “more partners are coming.” Argo and Ford have been working extensively with local businesses in Miami and elsewhere to test delivery operations. Making the AV fleet available to as many users as possible will contribute to vehicle utilization. Kwon isn’t committing to any specific timeline at this point, saying that this will be a “phased launch.
Last mile deliveries probably won’t be the only use case for Argo. Like Gatik, middle mile deliveries between stores and distribution centers are another prime market for AVs. Ford has commercial vehicles that are ideally suited to this use case in the Transit and Transit Connect vans and both seem like likely candidates for automation. In fact something like the next-generation Transit Connect would be a prime candidate to eventually replace the Escape.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How to Detect Your Child’s Emotional Distress Before the School’s AI DoesSchool districts use bots to monitor student email and web searches for signs of self-harm or violence; tips for parents on being proactive about their teens’ and tweens’ mental health.
Read more »
Exclusive ride in a Glydways autonomous transit pod that may beat UberI took an exclusive ride on a secretive autonomous mass-transit vehicle in Silicon Valley that would work like Uber but cost as little as a subway ride
Read more »
Lil Nas X Posts Video Of Himself (Literally) Giving 'Birth' To New AlbumLil Nas X Posts Video Of Himself (Literally) Giving 'Birth' To New Album LilNasX “It's beautiful,' one doctor says as he hands Lil Nas X the new bundle of joy. 'Thank you,' the proud daddy answers. 'It's already grammy-nominated!'
Read more »
The Bachelorette's Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark Finally Bring Their Love to the Red Carpet - E! OnlineAlmost nine months after their engagement was made public, The Bachelorette season 16 stars Tayshia Adams and Zac Clark finally made their red carpet debut as a couple.
Read more »
Walmart says looking into fake press release on litecoin tie-upWalmart Inc said on Monday it was looking into how a fake press statement announcing a partnership with litecoin, which briefly led to near 30% gains in the cryptocurrency, was issued by news release distributor GlobeNewswire.
Read more »