Gearing up for an autonomous future

The logistics industry faces rising demands for increased efficiency, enhanced safety, and improved sustainability. As mobility and global trade grow, we must take our operations to the next level – from inter-terminal baggage logistics at airports to inter-city freight transportation on highways and everything in between.

Autonomous vehicles present an innovative, long-term approach to unlocking sustainable and scalable solutions to meet these demands. How do we know this? We’re putting innovative autonomous technologies into practice and seeing the results. Here are two examples from our DHL Supply Chain operations in the UK and US.

At London’s Heathrow Airport, DHL Supply Chain moves some 60,000 passenger bags between terminals each month – a complex logistics challenge in a hectic airside environment. To test the viability of intelligent autonomous solutions for our baggage transfer service, we deployed an autonomous vehicle at Heathrow Airport, partnering with Oxa, a global leader in autonomous vehicle software. 

Over 14 days, the vehicle autonomously covered 1,300 km in active airside traffic – starting from day one without requiring extensive modifications. Prior to deployment, only a series of preparatory steps were needed to integrate the vehicle into the airport’s existing operations. Throughout the trial, the vehicle’s performance and safety metrics were continuously monitored and optimized, meeting all benchmarks. The result is exciting proof that autonomous driving technology can not only optimize our inter-terminal baggage transfer service but also serve as a test bed for further automation of airport services.

In the US, we’re taking autonomous driving technology out on the road. DHL Supply Chain has launched autonomous freight transport on key routes across Texas in collaboration with Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.). This operation is playing a critical role in testing the infrastructure needed to scale autonomous freight transport.

The Volvo VNL Autonomous, powered by the Aurora Driver, is now operational on routes between Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and El Paso. The Aurora Driver is a self-driving system with a common core of hardware and software designed to adapt to a broad set of vehicle types, from a four-door sedan to a Class 8 semitruck. At this stage, a safety driver rides in the cab to monitor performance and ensure seamless integration into the logistics network.

Whether out on the tarmac at London Heathrow or on the road between Dallas and Houston, safety is our top priority.

To prepare for Heathrow’s fast-paced and complex airside environment, we collaborated with Oxa to conduct comprehensive installation exercises ahead of the 14-day trial – ensuring the test vehicle could safely and efficiently navigate the airport.

The Volvo VNL Autonomous is designed with state-of-the-art safety systems, including the Aurora Driver’s advanced sensors for comprehensive visibility and long-range object detection – ensuring safe navigation at highway speeds. The vehicle’s critical systems also feature built-in redundancy, allowing backup controls to seamlessly take over if a primary system encounters an issue.

Autonomous driving technologies are set to transform logistics. As the world’s leading logistics company, we want to be at the forefront of that transformation. Collaborations with leading companies like Oxa and Volvo help us achieve safer, more efficient, and more sustainable logistics – improving our operations and creating competitive advantages for our customers. Together, we aim to set new standards for efficiency and sustainability – and ultimately deliver on the full promise of autonomy.