Hermes is taking part in a trial to find out how other road users interact with an apparently driverless van, in order to discover if autonomous vehicles might help their business.
The two-week early stage trial involves a specially adapted Ford CV featuring sensors that mimic the look of an actual self-driving vehicle, while a ‘hidden’ Hermes driver controls the vehicle.
Hermes said the driver will play a passive role, simply driving the vehicle while ‘pedestrian couriers’ support the van, remotely unlocking it after it is parked up.
Read more
- UPS trials driverless electric ‘shifters’ at London hub
- New research points to rapid rise of ‘driverless accompanied’ roro traffic
- Pandemic halts trials of autonomous HGV platoons
It said the research vehicle should help it understand how its teams could work safely alongside a fully driverless vehicle in the future.
Lynsey Aston, Hermes head of product, innovation and onboarding, said: “We’re excited to collaborate with Ford on this proof of concept trial, which is all about understanding the potential for autonomous vehicles and if they have a role in delivery in the longer-term future.”
![xpo-to-roll-out-160-new-shared-user-network-vehicles-in-uk-in-next-4-months[73772]](https://d2cohhpa0jt4tw.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67/7/8/6/17786_xpotorollout160newsharedusernetworkvehiclesinukinnext4months73772_701074.jpg)
