Engineering news
Mercedes-Benz is investing an undisclosed “multi-million-dollar” sum into Matternet, a California-based drone logistics startup, to develop automated delivery systems for its vans, including using flying drones and self-driving robots.
The two companies worked together on the Mercedes Vision Van, which is powered by a 75kW electric drive system and has a range of up to 270km.
The vehicle uses algorithms to control order picking, the loading of packages, the fully automated cargo space management, route planning for the vehicle and the delivery drones. They also calculate ideal delivery routes for the package deliverer. Automatic order picking takes place at the logistics centre, for example, and consignments are loaded into special racking systems. Driverless handling vehicles load the racks by way of an automated one-shot loading process.
The intelligent cargo space management system automatically transfers packages for manual delivery to the deliverer at the delivery destination by means of a package dispenser on board the vehicle. At the same time, the system supplies two drones, each with a payload capacity of 2kg, with consignments for autonomous delivery within a radius of 10km.
The front design is defined by the wide windscreen, which curves around to the sidewalls, the black panel radiator grille with integrated LED matrix via which the Vision Van communicates with its surroundings and the LED headlamps – warnings appear when the delivery drones take off, when the vehicle stops or when the deliverer alights.
The vehicle has no steering wheel, pedals and centre console instead it uses drive-by-wire control by means of a joystick. As a result it has also been possible to move the driver's seat further forward to enlarge the vehicle's useful floor space.
The vehicle also communicates with the driver using the cabin floor – LED indicators shine in the stainless steel floor, signalling to the driver whether pedestrians or cyclists are approaching. At the rear wall of the driver's cabin are the package dispenser and the driver's info terminal providing all the relevant information on the delivery process.
Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said: "With the Vision Van we are presenting the intelligent, clean and fully interconnected van of the future.
“The Vision Van integrates many concrete concepts for future delivery operations in the urban environment, such as a fully automatic cargo space, autonomously flying delivery drones and innovative communication feature," he added.
The vehicle features the new Matternet M2 drone, which is completely autonomous. It can transport up to 2kg and travel up to 12 miles on a single battery charge. It features a smart payload box that can transmit data about its contents and destination, has precision landing capabilities and captures proof of delivery.
The drone is equipped with a redundant flight termination system that deploys a parachute automatically if needed, and uses intelligent software to ensure that the vehicle never diverges by more than 5m from its pre-authorised path. Flight paths are automatically generated in approved airspace by Matternet’s cloud system using terrain, airspace and population-density models to plan the safest routes.
Andreas Raptopoulos, co-founder and chief executive of Matternet, added: “In Mercedes-Benz Vans, we found a partner that is not only synonymous with quality, safety, reliability and efficiency, but is also willing to imagine and create the future of transportation with us.
“We are driven by a common vision to automate last-mile logistics, which today is the least efficient and most expensive part of logistics. Through this partnership, we are building solutions that will dramatically reduce the time and cost of on-demand delivery,” he added.