Autonomous Fleets

Seamless Coordination

There have been many advancements in the transportation industry over the past 20 years, and with more improvements on the way. One advancement on the horizon is autonomous vehicles and dispatching, which is one of TIAT’s company specialties. Currently, there are over 1,800 autonomous vehicles in use on US roadways alone, with a growing acceptance rate. Autonomous fleet vehicles without a doubt will be a part of our future. We are actively developing and have deployed our autonomous fleet management system for a future with autonomous fleet vehicles being the norm.

Autonomous Vehicle Basics

Autonomous vehicles use sensors to create a map of its surroundings. The sensors detect obstructions, other vehicles, lane markings, pedestrians, as well as traffic signs and lights. Software transforms this information into a path for the vehicle by sending directions to the actuators that control the vehicle, directions like acceleration, braking, or steering. By using algorithms, the vehicle can avoid obstacles, while driving safely and obeying traffic laws.

Fun fact, Michigan State Legislature recently passed a bill allowing self-driving cars to operate without a driver or a steering wheel.

Autonomous Dispatching Basics

Autonomous dispatching is an automated system coordinating the seamless movement of goods, people, and services. The goal is to improve fleet efficiency, customer service, reduce miles driven, improve fleet utilization, reduce overhead, and minimize time spent on logistics planning — all while reducing late deliveries and saving the planet. With autonomous dispatching transportation requests are automatically fulfilled, routed, and dispatched using parameters set in users profiles’ matching overall capabilities of all our users on our Platform. Using large sets of data combined with machine learning, autonomous dispatching makes real time decisions optimizing routes, rerouting around traffic delays, and resequencing stops. Ensuring that deliveries are made on time.

integration of automation in transportation

Full vehicle automation is one of the next steps in the evolution of the Transportation Industry. The idea of autonomous vehicles have evolved from a dream to a reality. Between 2030-2040 we can expect fully automated vehicles to command the roadways, as well as the integration of fully automated transportation platforms for the delivery of goods. Electric Autonomous Vehicles have the potential to reduce environmental impacts and congestion from the transportation of freight. Studies also indicate for the overall lifespan of an EAV, they can cut down transportation costs upwards of 60%. The evolution and adaptation of autonomous vehicles will in many ways impact and change how we transport everything.

Predictions state that by 2050 owning an autonomous vehicle will be the norm for consumers. In 2017 Google made the first leap introducing autonomous driving technology to the consumer market. In 2020 many major automotive manufacturers followed by introducing key pieces of technology necessary for the manufacturing of autonomous vehicles. This has decreased the overall costs as the technology is being perfected.

The University of Texas reports, “if 90 percent of the cars on roads in the United States were replaced by autonomous vehicles, the savings across various industries, such as automakers, insurers, and the government, could reach as high as $450 billion.” This has been a huge incentive for policymakers to pave the way for autonomous technologies. Adapting to fully autonomous roadways will likely take a while, but the anticipated benefits to safety, the economy, and overall convenience will no doubt help the process.

The demand and adoption of autonomous semi-trucks in the U.S., has progressed much faster than passenger vehicles. There are many benefits of autonomous trucks like safety, reduced labor demand, fuel efficiency, and operating expenses.

Perks of automation in the transportation industry

Safety

Autonomous Vehicles are safer and more responsive to environmental situations. Whether it is weather, traffic dense locations, or other hazards. Automation can process actions and respond faster than humans. For the Transportation Industry this means, we get an overall reduction in liability and the costs that are associated with it. Accident prevention, speed control, navigation of routes are some examples where autonomous vehicles give you more control where it counts. Autonomous vehicles can save thousands of lives by removing the operator, drivers fatigue is responsible for over 4,000 deaths each year in the trucking industry. Automated vehicles also address overall safety issues from humans like speeding, road rage, poor judgement, and other safety issues.

Quit Being Short Staffed

Electric Autonomous fleets alleviates the problem of being short staffed, and will eliminate the need for drivers altogether. Currently it is estimated that the transportation industry is in need of 84,000 drivers. Autonomous trucks are not expected to eliminate drivers in the short term, but in the next 5-10 years most long haul trucking will be fully autonomous.

reduce operating expenses

Autonomous trucks increase fuel and driver efficiency over 30%. Autonomous trucks are able to communicate with other autonomous vehicles, they navigate traffic faster, are dependable, do not require an operator, increasing fuel and corporate efficiency as a result. Improving the overall customers experience.

Theft Prevention

Theft prevention is a big thing, you can do many things with Autonomous application. You could drive a thief directly to the police station and shut down the vehicle. A thief would need to manage to get past all the security features like password start protection, assigned drivers, vocal recognition, tamper alert, break in alert, emergency shut down, that is just to start. Your fleet will not go anywhere you do not want it to while protecting your cargo with autonomous motion. You can't steal a vehicle you can't get in, program, or operate. You also can't steel freight were the vehicle is always moving.

Emergency Response Applications

Autonomous vehicle applications are life saving! The vehicle to vehicle communications automatically directs non-emergency vehicle to pull to the side. Making a clear and safer path for emergency response units. It also helps the driver of the unit, by provide real time gps navigation, with vibrate set indicators for directions, and active map planning and analytics for paths of travel. This means... the software predicts where the bad guys are going and can provide a clear path for emergency responders to get there.

Industry Applications for autonomous fleet dispatching

Autonomous applications in the transportation industry go far beyond freight only. Autonomous transportation and electric vehicles reinvent the wheel. Changing how we get around, how goods and services are delivered, and how we even conduct business. It even creates a safer environment in our communities and on roadways, while saving our planet from CO2 emissions. Automation is able to do this by applying one simple fundamental which is, “work smarter, not harder”.

With the changing demands of the transportation industry ranging from commuter vehicles, shipments, deliveries, and emergency response the demand for a unified integratable system has to be the priority. This is how we are applying this new technology.