Industry experts are defining what it will take to make autonomous vehicles a practical and safety reality.

Autonomous trucking technology companies have popped up everywhere in the past 12 months, each with similar technology that is focused on clearing two very important hurdles: getting the truck on and off the highway.  

The autonomous vehicle revolution is quickly on its way to reality...perhaps too quickly. There are several AV's currently in testing for transportation of cargo, as well as humans. The pioneer in AV technology is clearly Uber. With its acquisition of Otto, the leader in commercial truck automation, it plans to be the first at the table with AV technology for cargo hauling. It is also testing its own self driving vehicles in many U.S. cities. 

Both the drone industry and federal regulators are years away from actual legal drone deliveries in the United States, but that’s not stopping companies from testing possibilities. UPS successfully completed its first drone delivery from a delivery truck. The drone is designed to be stationed on the roof of the truck and to be launched from and return to the roof based launch pad.

Monday’s test, performed in Lithia, Fl, with Workhorse Group, an Ohio-based electric truck and drone developer, sent the drone first on an autonomous package delivery and then back to the truck, while the truck was out making a separate delivery.The drone docks on the roof of the delivery truck. A cage suspended beneath the drone, extends through a hatch into the truck.

A UPS driver inside loads a package into the cage and presses a button on a touch screen, sending the drone on a preset autonomous route to an address. The battery-powered HorseFly drone recharges while it’s docked. It has a 30-minute flight time and can carry a package weighing up to 10 pounds.

This test has specific delivery implications for some UPS customers. It has implications for future deliveries, especially in rural locations, where our package cars often have to travel miles to make a single delivery,” said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president of global engineering and sustainability. Rural delivery routes are the most expensive to serve, due to the time and vehicle expenses required to complete each delivery.

While the drone is making its delivery, the driver would continue to the next stop, make another delivery by hand, and the drone would then rendezvous and recharge on top of the UPS package car. The drone is fully autonomous. It doesn’t require a pilot. So, the delivery driver is free to make other deliveries while the drone is away.

UPS has been a leader in efficiency improvements in its operation. Years ago, they programmed their delivery routes to maximize right turns taking advantage of right turn on red opportunities, rather than sit at a red light to go left. They continue to maximize delivery efficiency with this drone application.

Last year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued small unmanned aircraft systems rules that allow for some commercial use of drones and paved the way for future expanded applications. UPS was one of 35 selected from a cross section of key stakeholders to serve on the FAA’s drone advisory committee. The committee will provide the FAA recommendations on key drone integration issues that will ultimately allow for safe and secure operations of drones within the National Air Space System.

Your car windshield is about to become the next digital battleground for your disposable dollars. Car makers are proposing a smart windshield capable of displaying relevant ads in addition to expected information, such as car speed and blind spot awareness alerts. The ads would promote businesses along your route of travel on any given trip.

Technology has morphed the way we arrange both personal and commercial transportation. Here's a peek into what ideas are next. 

It is likely the logistics industry will adopt self-driving vehicles much faster than most other industries. The primary concern for automated motorized vehicles is personal and property damage liability. Secure areas and minimal personnel minimize liability risks creating ideal conditions for an automated environment. Also, the grid design of a typical warehouse makes for generally simplified navigation of an automated forklift, for example. The limited and repetitive tasks required to stack and transport pallets does not require complicated programming and sophisticated hardware. With these considerations in mind, it’s possible that a warehouse may be the ideal environment for a completely automated storage and distribution facility. Most high volume warehouse facilities today have some degree of autonomous technology in use. It may require a leap of faith to go to 100% automation. 

Texas is among the busiest states for commercial truck transportation in the U.S. The congestion, inbound traffic volumes and security concerns from its southern neighbor all contribute to its high volume of truck transportation. The volume of cargo traffic and private vehicle traffic in many areas has grown faster than the public road infrastructure. Texas has seven of the top 25 freight bottlenecks in the nation, located in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. Truck traffic over congested public roads contributes to major economic and quality-of-life challenges. Engineers at Texas A&M have designed a possible solution to these traffic issues. 

The ongoing battle over New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund is approaching a solution. New Jersey’s Senate and Assembly voted on October 7, 2016 to provide $2 billion annually to the transportation fund for the next eight years, thanks to tax increases of 27 cents per gallon on diesel and 23 cents per gallon on gasoline. Currently the tax is 17.5 cents per gallon and 14.5 cents per gallon respectively, the nation’s lowest, other than those in Alaska. 

The Department of Transportation's electronic logging device mandate and the EPA’s coming emissions standards will likely lead to an industry capacity crunch and a big increase in rates.