Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AWARD (All Weather Autonomous Real logistics operations and Demonstrations)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2024-06-30
Autonomous commercial vehicles can address key issues in transportation, such as the driver shortage due to low attractiveness and an aging population in the EU. Additionally, over 90% of fatal truck accidents are caused by driver errors, and freight transport capacity utilization is below 50%. Driverless vehicles operating 24/7 could solve these problems while offering significant cost savings, making a positive business case.
However, validation is a challenge, as each use case presents unique difficulties. A generic Operational Domain Design (ODD) validation would make business cases more viable.
The main objective of AWARD was to pave the way for the roll-out of autonomous transportation in a wide variety of applications, whatever the weather conditions were. This has been demonstrated by running a range of real-world hub-type missions each with one or more autonomous driving fitted vehicles. The knowledge gained from these operations is designed to validate that the solution functions, scales and adds value for hub operator or fleets. AWARD will be a key step for a fully integrated freight management system.
However, validation is a challenge, as each use case presents unique difficulties. A generic Operational Domain Design (ODD) validation would make business cases more viable.
The main objective of AWARD was to pave the way for the roll-out of autonomous transportation in a wide variety of applications, whatever the weather conditions were. This has been demonstrated by running a range of real-world hub-type missions each with one or more autonomous driving fitted vehicles. The knowledge gained from these operations is designed to validate that the solution functions, scales and adds value for hub operator or fleets. AWARD will be a key step for a fully integrated freight management system.
AWARD partners worked together for 3 years.
The first year of the project was focused on the identification of end users’ needs to get requirements regarding the use cases and the global system architecture: Stakeholder needs and requirements for the AWARD Autonomous Goods Transportation Systems (AGTS) had been identified. Completeness and representativeness of stakeholders’ and users’ groups had been assured by defining a comprehensive stakeholder taxonomy that was taken as a reference frame for data gathering and analysis. The detailed ODD (Operational Design Domain), which consisted of elements describing the physical infrastructure, the environmental conditions, and the operational constraints of the automated vehicles, had been created to provide a reference base for the functional requirements.
In parallel, the technical work packages WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5 workshopped to provide a driverless heavy-duty vehicle with the right safety level, associated with a fleet management and supervision system to optimize logistics operations: The ADS system used the AWARD sensor set to feed the localization and perception software functions. Radar localization was used as a redundant localization source modality to the odometry, GNSS/RTK, and LIDAR localization functions. Object output from the stereo and thermal camera systems, coupled with powerful analysis embedded algorithms, as well as radar object detection, increased the vehicles' performances towards “all-weather” real-time object 360° detection and synthesis. The AWARD team performed specific safety-oriented analyses (HARA, safety goals, and functional safety concepts were defined). The AWARD ADS was compliant with the 4 AWARD platforms (from the luggage tractor to the forklift), which demonstrated the high level of scalability of the solution and ensured a “standardized” solution, adaptable to various HDVs. AWARD fleet management design was completed in accordance with the use cases and in coordination with the team's objectives. Interfaces/connections to the surrounding systems, including the logistics systems (e.g. Terminal Operating System API), road units and sensors (traffic lights, gates, weather stations), and the different platforms were defined. The API development was supported by simulation to validate software development and demonstrate how the fleet manager would access the different streams of data. A major achievement was the first successful test of the AWARD FMS in controlled testing grounds at the EasyMile Francazal proving ground. This opened the way for the first successful deployment of the FMS for AVINOR (Airport use case).
Then, the implementation of the pilot projects occured in 2023, and shewed interesting results of a luggage tractors running in Oslo Airport, a forklift loading/unloading
To provide insights and recommendations on the standardization and harmonization of certification processes and type approval at the EU level and on regulations that ensure both safety and economic viability of automated transport systems.
The consortium mainly worked on the demonstration of the economic viability of automated transport. The study focused on the business analysis of all different deployment opportunities related to connected and automated heavy-duty vehicles in real-life logistics operations. Analysis of the market and competition was performed as well as a benchmark of existing HDV (Heavy Duty Vehicle) platforms in logistics environments.
AWARD promotion during events (VDI ELIV, EUCAD, TRA, RTR) around Europe. Dedicated conferences scheduled in SOLUTRANS (Lyon - France), Brussels, etc.. Regular posts (special events, milestones, plaftorm logistic operations, surveys) communicated through AWARD webpage and social media such as LinkedIn.
The first year of the project was focused on the identification of end users’ needs to get requirements regarding the use cases and the global system architecture: Stakeholder needs and requirements for the AWARD Autonomous Goods Transportation Systems (AGTS) had been identified. Completeness and representativeness of stakeholders’ and users’ groups had been assured by defining a comprehensive stakeholder taxonomy that was taken as a reference frame for data gathering and analysis. The detailed ODD (Operational Design Domain), which consisted of elements describing the physical infrastructure, the environmental conditions, and the operational constraints of the automated vehicles, had been created to provide a reference base for the functional requirements.
In parallel, the technical work packages WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5 workshopped to provide a driverless heavy-duty vehicle with the right safety level, associated with a fleet management and supervision system to optimize logistics operations: The ADS system used the AWARD sensor set to feed the localization and perception software functions. Radar localization was used as a redundant localization source modality to the odometry, GNSS/RTK, and LIDAR localization functions. Object output from the stereo and thermal camera systems, coupled with powerful analysis embedded algorithms, as well as radar object detection, increased the vehicles' performances towards “all-weather” real-time object 360° detection and synthesis. The AWARD team performed specific safety-oriented analyses (HARA, safety goals, and functional safety concepts were defined). The AWARD ADS was compliant with the 4 AWARD platforms (from the luggage tractor to the forklift), which demonstrated the high level of scalability of the solution and ensured a “standardized” solution, adaptable to various HDVs. AWARD fleet management design was completed in accordance with the use cases and in coordination with the team's objectives. Interfaces/connections to the surrounding systems, including the logistics systems (e.g. Terminal Operating System API), road units and sensors (traffic lights, gates, weather stations), and the different platforms were defined. The API development was supported by simulation to validate software development and demonstrate how the fleet manager would access the different streams of data. A major achievement was the first successful test of the AWARD FMS in controlled testing grounds at the EasyMile Francazal proving ground. This opened the way for the first successful deployment of the FMS for AVINOR (Airport use case).
Then, the implementation of the pilot projects occured in 2023, and shewed interesting results of a luggage tractors running in Oslo Airport, a forklift loading/unloading
To provide insights and recommendations on the standardization and harmonization of certification processes and type approval at the EU level and on regulations that ensure both safety and economic viability of automated transport systems.
The consortium mainly worked on the demonstration of the economic viability of automated transport. The study focused on the business analysis of all different deployment opportunities related to connected and automated heavy-duty vehicles in real-life logistics operations. Analysis of the market and competition was performed as well as a benchmark of existing HDV (Heavy Duty Vehicle) platforms in logistics environments.
AWARD promotion during events (VDI ELIV, EUCAD, TRA, RTR) around Europe. Dedicated conferences scheduled in SOLUTRANS (Lyon - France), Brussels, etc.. Regular posts (special events, milestones, plaftorm logistic operations, surveys) communicated through AWARD webpage and social media such as LinkedIn.
Improvement of the architecture of the ADS:
AWARD demonstrated the added value of the RADAR localization modality for harsh weather condition navigation (the precision of the partners' radar localization was evaluated and used as a redundant source of localization in parallel with the LIDAR, Odometry, and GNSS/RTK positioning). Moreover, AWARD sensor set object output was used to detect and classify objects surrounding the platform in various weather conditions. In addition, an embedded teleoperation platform was integrated to handle any “edge case” on the road or high ambiguity situation, by referring to human intelligence that could intervene safely from a remote location.
Demonstration of ADS integrated in different heavy-duty vehicles in real-life logistics operations:
AWARD ADS architecture was compliant with the safety standards guidelines and adaptable to various industrial platforms (from the port truck to the forklift).
Testing phases (integration tests, SOTIF tests) of the 4 heavy-duty platforms, from the baggage airport tractor to the port truck, allowed the project to deploy the vehicles in real-life logistics operations with mixed traffic segments between warehouses.
Validation of efficiency increase of fleets using trucks with ADS:
The project presented standardized interfaces for efficient and safe communication with vehicles, road infrastructure, logistics systems, and other relevant road users, allowing the achieved design to be implemented in any desired system. The new fleet management system, concerted unification of TOS, V2X services, and road sensors demonstrated a more efficient and reliable fleet, decreasing handling times, emissions, and the need for human interaction while increasing reliability and safety.
Regarding operation performed during the project: Clear economic benefits can be expected when replacing a fleet of human drivers. The project results indicate that a couple of teleoperators could probably oversee a dozen automated vehicles. Teleoperation thus becomes a topic for future research, proving confident teleoperation, so that legislation would better allow remote operations of automated vehicles, especially at restricted areas such as airports and ports.
AWARD demonstrated the added value of the RADAR localization modality for harsh weather condition navigation (the precision of the partners' radar localization was evaluated and used as a redundant source of localization in parallel with the LIDAR, Odometry, and GNSS/RTK positioning). Moreover, AWARD sensor set object output was used to detect and classify objects surrounding the platform in various weather conditions. In addition, an embedded teleoperation platform was integrated to handle any “edge case” on the road or high ambiguity situation, by referring to human intelligence that could intervene safely from a remote location.
Demonstration of ADS integrated in different heavy-duty vehicles in real-life logistics operations:
AWARD ADS architecture was compliant with the safety standards guidelines and adaptable to various industrial platforms (from the port truck to the forklift).
Testing phases (integration tests, SOTIF tests) of the 4 heavy-duty platforms, from the baggage airport tractor to the port truck, allowed the project to deploy the vehicles in real-life logistics operations with mixed traffic segments between warehouses.
Validation of efficiency increase of fleets using trucks with ADS:
The project presented standardized interfaces for efficient and safe communication with vehicles, road infrastructure, logistics systems, and other relevant road users, allowing the achieved design to be implemented in any desired system. The new fleet management system, concerted unification of TOS, V2X services, and road sensors demonstrated a more efficient and reliable fleet, decreasing handling times, emissions, and the need for human interaction while increasing reliability and safety.
Regarding operation performed during the project: Clear economic benefits can be expected when replacing a fleet of human drivers. The project results indicate that a couple of teleoperators could probably oversee a dozen automated vehicles. Teleoperation thus becomes a topic for future research, proving confident teleoperation, so that legislation would better allow remote operations of automated vehicles, especially at restricted areas such as airports and ports.