Vehicle technology company ZF Group has announced a strategic partnership with autonomous mobility company Aidrivers to develop autonomous driving in ports.
According to ZF, there is a growing need for autonomous goods handling in major ports worldwide. The vehicles in the ports operate around the clock and have largely been manually operated. The two companies have partnered to retrofit terminal tractors for autonomous operations.
ZF said converted port vehicles could be used in mixed traffic operations without special lanes for on-yard logistic solutions. Port operators could benefit from enhanced terminal safety and efficiency using modern, advanced autonomous technologies.
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“Based on our long-term expertise in autonomous driving systems, we are delighted to now also operate successfully on the market as mobility solutions provider,” Alexander Makowski, head of ZF Mobility Solutions, said. “In addition, we will leverage the ZF Group's entire expertise in vehicle technology, for example in the electrification of the drivetrain and vehicle motion control. And together with our global aftermarket organization, we will provide state-of-the-art customer service directly on-site.”
Within the partnership, Aidrivers will focus on supplying an autonomous driving software ecosystem. ZF Mobility Solutions will be the engineering partner for the technology’s integration, validation, and deployment.
“We are proud to have won ZF as a global partner with expertise in the field of autonomous driving in a wide range of applications from passenger cars and commercial vehicles to special vehicles,” Rafiq Swash, CEO of Aidrivers, said. “This is the perfect match for us as a small, innovative solution provider for autonomous driving in ports and logistics areas.”
