On December 15, Walmart announced that in early 2021 its Autonomous Box Trucks will transition to be fully autonomous on a two-mile-long test road in Bentonville, Arkansas.
The fully autonomous test will be completely driverless and is an extension of the retailer's autonomous pilot testing with Gatik. Walmart also indicated that its second pilot program will also be expanded, where autonomous testing will take place on a 20-mile section of road between a Walmart pickup point and a supercenter in Metairie, Louisiana.
The tests with Gatik serve two purposes, the first test will evaluate Walmart’s middle-mile autonomous capabilities and the other test will evaluate autonomous capabilities over longer distances. Walmart has made significant investments in autonomous technology, and it has other partnerships with autonomous technology companies other than Gatik.
Autonomous Retail Networks
Walmart Will Use Autonomous Box Trucks That are Completely Driverless
Trend Themes
1. Autonomous Retail Networks - The development of fully autonomous box trucks for retail delivery presents an opportunity for the creation of autonomous retail networks, transforming the way goods are transported and distributed.
2. Middle-mile Autonomous Capabilities - Testing Walmart's middle-mile autonomous capabilities allows for the exploration of more efficient and cost-effective ways to transport goods between distribution centers and retail stores.
3. Expansion of Autonomous Testing - The expansion of autonomous testing to longer distances opens up possibilities for more extensive use of autonomous vehicles in various industries beyond retail.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - The retail industry can benefit from incorporating autonomous retail networks to streamline delivery processes and enhance customer experience.
2. Logistics - The development of middle-mile autonomous capabilities can revolutionize logistics operations by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing human error during transportation.
3. Transportation - The expansion of autonomous testing to longer distances signifies potential disruption in the transportation industry, paving the way for autonomous vehicles to become a mainstream mode of transport.