In a bid to transform last-mile delivery operations in the USA, autonomous vehicle technology provider Faction is testing the use of self-driving light electric vehicles (EVs) for curbside delivery in Houston, Texas.
According to Faction, the trial will pave the way for a safer, more efficient future of urban transportation. The company’s DriveLink autonomy system and TeleAssist for remote human assistance will be tested during the trial, which will see self-driving vehicles fulfil curbside deliveries for real customers in the Houston metropolitan area in its early operations phase.
The company has also partnered with Verizon to deploy its Hyper Precise Location service, which enhances satellite-based location accuracy from meters to centimeters.
TJ Fox, senior vice president of industrial IoT and automotive, Verizon Business, explained, “We are excited to collaborate with Faction to provide reliable cellular connectivity and location services for their self-driving vehicles. This partnership demonstrates Verizon’s commitment to enabling innovative solutions that drive the future of mobility.”
In addition to delivering goods to customers, Faction’s self-driving EVs will be collecting crucial routing and map data for the Houston metro area that will help optimize navigation algorithms and enhance the overall efficiency of autonomous vehicle operations.
Ain McKendrick, CEO of Faction, commented, “We are thrilled to bring our self-driving technology to the vibrant city of Houston and demonstrate the potential of autonomous vehicles to revolutionize urban transportation and delivery operations. With Faction’s supervised autonomous solutions and strategic partnerships, we are poised to drive positive change and create a more sustainable, efficient and accessible future for all.”