Self-Driving Truck Makes Beer Delivery

Otto truck traveled 120 miles through Colorado
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 26, 2016 12:03 AM CDT
Self-Driving Truck Makes Beer Delivery
One of Otto's self-driving big-rig trucks leaves the garage for a test drive during a demonstration at the Otto headquarters in San Francisco.   (Tony Avelar)

It was a beer run like no other: Anheuser-Busch says it has completed the world's first commercial shipment by self-driving truck, sending a beer-filled tractor-trailer on a journey of more than 120 miles through Colorado, the AP reports. The company says it teamed with self-driving truck-maker Otto and the state of Colorado for the feat. The trailer, loaded with Budweiser beer, began the self-driving trip at a weigh station in Fort Collins and ran along Interstate 25 through Denver before wrapping up in Colorado Springs.

The company says a professional truck driver was on board for the entire route and monitored the trip from the cab's sleeper berth. Anheuser-Busch says it hopes to see self-driving technology widely deployed. Otto was recently acquired by Uber for $680 million. For now, the technology only works on highways, and co-founder Lior Ron tells Wired that they have no intention of trying to get rid of human drivers. He says he sees a future "where those trucks are essentially a virtual train on a software rail, on the highway," and human drivers take charge at depots to handle the last few miles to their destination. (Read more self-driving car stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X