UPS will make deliveries using Waymo’s autonomous Class 8 trucks

[cheryl]

UPS will make deliveries using Waymo’s autonomous Class 8 trucks - The Verge

Waymo and UPS are expanding their nearly two-year-old partnership to include deliveries made using the Alphabet company’s fleet of autonomous Class 8 trucks. The companies had previously only conducted local deliveries using Waymo’s self-driving minivans; now, they will work together on longer-distance freight hauling.

The deliveries will take place in Texas, where Waymo is building a nine-acre hub for its autonomous semi-trailer trucks. Starting now and lasting until the end of the year, Waymo and UPS will collaborate on freight hauling between facilities in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. The companies will gather data during the trial process, with an eye on safety and efficiency in particular.

Currently, Waymo is testing the fifth generation of its “Driver,” which is the term used to describe its combination of hardware, sensors, and AI software, on its fleet of Class 8 trucks. The company is also working with JB Hunt Transport Services to haul freight along several interstates in Texas and is continuing its work with Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, on a fully autonomous, Level 4 system for trucks.

 

[wilberforce15]

But if we have autonomous trucks, who is going to eat all the chips in the vending machine?

 

[TechnoLuddite]

Article says the truck needs two Waymo staff for both test and commercial drives, seems like a sly way to replace hourly union drivers with contractors without actually saving costs...

God knows when the Waymo staff are no longer required, those saved labor costs aren't going to get reinvested in the remaining workers...

 

[wilberforce15]

Article says the truck needs two Waymo staff for both test and commercial drives, seems like a sly way to replace hourly union drivers with contractors without actually saving costs...

God knows when the Waymo staff are no longer required, those saved labor costs aren't going to get reinvested in the remaining workers...

Waymo is garbage and will never get wide adoption. Tesla will actually take the jobs.

 

[Jkloc420]

No we wont

 

[wilberforce15]

No we wont

It says we will.

You're probably just saying they're not deliveries. But they are. They're delivering trailers from hub to hub.

 

[Jkloc420]

It says we will.

You're probably just saying they're not deliveries. But they are. They're delivering trailers from hub to hub.

What i say goes

The end

 

[Swanson]

It says we will.

You're probably just saying they're not deliveries. But they are. They're delivering trailers from hub to hub.

according to @quad decade guy that is not possible

 

[UnionStrong]

according to @quad decade guy that is not possible

The maroon

 

[UnionStrong]

according to @quad decade guy that is not possible

Say hello to the future, quad gal

 

[meritocracy]

we are screwed if we don't get federal and state regulations in place for this BS

 

[wilberforce15]

we are screwed if we don't get federal and state regulations in place for this BS

What regulations?

Humans are way more dangerous behind the wheel. The safety argument goes in favor of the bots by a mile.

 

[Non liberal]

But if we have autonomous trucks, who is going to eat all the chips in the vending machine?

Vending companies need to make money too.

 

[Non liberal]

What regulations?

Humans are way more dangerous behind the wheel. The safety argument goes in favor of the bots by a mile.

That is yet to be seen. There are a lot of situations they have yet to put these trucks in. Notice they said Texas where they don’t normally get snow.

 

[wilberforce15]

That is yet to be seen. There are a lot of situations they have yet to put these trucks in. Notice they said Texas where they don’t normally get snow.

There are only a few situations bots aren't better yet. They'll disappear over time. It's all a work in progress. But, there isn't really any doubt that they're safer than Circle of Honor drivers on regular highways right now.

 

[Non liberal]

There are only a few situations bots aren't better yet. They'll disappear over time. It's all a work in progress. But, there isn't really any doubt that they're safer than Circle of Honor drivers on regular highways right now.

Freakin bots! It will be interesting, the legal aspect of it. The feds will have to relieve these commercial autonomus vehicle manufacturers and the private companies of all liability if it’s going to work. Accidents do happen and when it does there will be lawsuits flying.

 

[wilberforce15]

Freakin bots! It will be interesting, the legal aspect of it. The feds will have to relieve these commercial autonomus vehicle manufacturers and the private companies of all liability if it’s going to work. Accidents do happen and when it does there will be lawsuits flying.

Which would show that the system is simply broken, because even today, universal Tesla autopilot would probably reduce traffic deaths by 95% or even 99%.

The liability on the other 5% makes in unfeasible. That will have to be fixed.

 

[burrheadd]

There are only a few situations bots aren't better yet. They'll disappear over time. It's all a work in progress. But, there isn't really any doubt that they're safer than Circle of Honor drivers on regular highways right now.

Talk to me when one of them gets a circle of honor patch

 

[wilberforce15]

Talk to me when one of them gets a circle of honor patch

They drive more accident-free miles than a circle of honor driver every single day.

 

[rod]

Does UPS know that a new battery pack for a Tesla starts at $21,000 ? The way UPS likes to hang on to stuff forever they better be checking on the cost of maintaining these electronic / computer driven nightmares.