The logistics experts at 3PL provider YMX know a thing or two about managing an efficient fleet, but even they are feeling the nationwide shortage of qualified shipyard operators. To help keep goods moving and wheels turning, the company is turning to autonomous, zero-emission yard trucks at customer sites as part of a new pilot with artificial intelligence startup Outrider.
Under a new five-year commercial agreement, YMX will operate the autonomous Outrider system on its fleet of all-electric Orange EV yard dogs in large business customer yards starting this year. The upgraded, autonomous Class 8 heavy-duty trucks promise to deliver safer and more productive supply chain operations for both the 3PL and its customers.
“Outrider autonomous yard trucks are a strategic addition to our autonomous yard operating system, expanding how we use technology to run yard operations and create value for our customers,” explains Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics. “We selected Outrider for its industry-leading approach to system security, use of advanced AI capabilities in diverse yard environments, and operational maturity.”
Cook, WITHOUT gas
This agreement between YMX and Outrider advances both companies in the race to electrify their operations and protect their customers from increasingly volatile (and expensive) diesel fuel prices (which sit at a national average of $6.38 a gallon this week). And, because Outrider built its autonomous driving system on the same Orange EV electric truck platform that YMX already deployed, its customers have a relatively simple path ahead of them to achieve the benefits of automation and electrification without needing to become experts in either.
“Large shippers are focused on running complex operations and often lack the time and resources to evaluate, implement and support new technologies themselves. At the same time, supply chain executives and site personnel are eager for safer, more productive shipyards,” said Andrew Smith, CEO of Outrider. “YMX has built an exceptional business around delivering integrated technology and turnkey operational services to enterprise customers. The partnership between YMX and Outrider provides enterprise shippers a simple path to implement and scale physical AI in their yard operations.”
To make Orange electric vehicles drive themselves, Outrider equips the trucks with a suite of advanced technology that includes all the necessary basic elements: LiDAR, radar, and cameras – power an AI-powered perception system running on NVIDIA DRIVE hardware. The setup gives the trucks 360-degree situational awareness and allows them to safely identify, track and navigate around everything from trailers and other trucks to pallets and people, while Outrider’s proprietary software handles the actual driving.
It’s worth noting, too, that despite not necessarily needing to certify its off-road autonomy with the NHTSA, TÜV SÜD, a globally recognized (and arguably much stricter) independent testing and certification organization, determined that the Outrider’s functional safety aligns with the requirements of its Autonomous Vehicle Compliance Framework.
SOURCE | IMAGES: YMX.
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