Shopping for groceries in the Greater Toronto Area simply acquired just a little extra futuristic.
Loblaw Cos. Ltd and autonomous center mile logistics firm Gatik have teamed as much as launch Canada’s first absolutely driverless grocery delivery truck.
“Being the first in Canada with this technology and deploying a fully driverless solution is exciting and illustrates our commitment to making grocery shopping better for customers,” Loblaw’s Chief Technology and Analytics Officer, David Markwell, mentioned in a information launch printed Wednesday.
The two corporations have been testing the know-how since Jan. 2020 and accomplished 150,000 autonomous deliveries with a 100 per cent security report throughout that point.
During these trials, a “safety driver” was on board and in the driver’s seat as a safeguard — however not working the car’s controls.
As of right now, Loblaw advised CTV News Toronto in an electronic mail it has 5 trucks on the street. One of these autos is working absolutely autonomously, whereas the different 4 have a security driver on board.
One of Loblaw’s driverless delivery trucks is seen on this picture. (Loblaw Cos. Ltd/Gatik)
The refrigerated trucks function for about 12 hours a day and decide up grocery orders from a Loblaw distribution facility earlier than arriving at close by retail places in the GTA on fastened, repetitive, predictable routes.
With the removing of the security driver, the corporations consider they’re able to unlock the “true advantages of autonomous delivery.”
“Autonomous delivery enables Loblaw to operate more routes and make more frequent trips, establishing a supply chain that is safer, more sustainable and more resilient,” the information launch reads.
As for scaling up the challenge, Loblaw says there isn’t a particular timeline however they are going to proceed to assessment outcomes and look to see the place else the know-how would possibly make sense.