How will tomorrow be different from today? We’ll live longer and move faster. Our resources will dwindle while our technological capacity grows. But our basic needs to sleep, eat, work, and get from place to place will stay the same. That last part is what we’re interested in here. How will we move people, things, and spaces together in the next decade? The case study of IDEO about the future of automobility tries to find out this.
The Future of Moving Things
As we look ahead, we see self-driving delivery trucks – we call them 21st century mules – delivering everything from your new jeans to a hot lunch, almost instantly.
A NEW FAMILIAR SIGHT
Hello, I’m Cody. I’m about to make my first delivery of the morning.
CODY STATUS REPORT, 8:00 am
New Efficiencies
Cody, an anthropomorphized self-driving delivery truck, signals to traffic through color and digital displays. Autonomous vehicles like Cody can save around $101 billion in gas and oil expenditures annually in the US alone.
CONVENIENT CURBSIDE SERVICE
There’s Erika. She relies on same-day delivery to show interior design options to her clients. I meet her wherever she is to make her deliveries.
CODY STATUS REPORT, 8:30 am
Solid Tires
Cody’s no-maintenance, non-pneumatic, composite core wheels eliminate the possibility of flat tires and missed deliveries.
SAFE and SECURE DELIVERY
Hi Erika! Here are your first two packages of the day from Nestr. Do you want me to take any outgoing packages?
CODY STATUS REPORT, 8:32 am
F2F
Cody scans faces on approach, ensuring that customers are legit and that deliveries are completed safely.
NEIGHBOURHOOD FRIEND
I’m off to my next stop. This view never gets old!
CODY STATUS REPORT, 9:00 am
Strong and Light
Cody’s carbon composite x-frame structure protects energy cells and easily bears the weight of packages while also keeping them protected.
AT YOUR SERVICE
Incoming route-change request. Jen needs me to drop off a package at work in 35 minutes. I’m on it, Jen!
CODY STATUS REPORT, 9:10 am
Just in Time Delivery
Existing track systems can only tell us that our package “left the warehouse in Omaha yesterday”. Cody will let us know if that same package is being delayed for 30 seconds at the red light down the block.
ADAPTING on the GO
I can rearrange these packages to accommodate Jen’s last-minute delivery request.
CODY STATUS REPORT, 9:10 am
XS and OS
These XS and OS are an optical positioning system and vacuum-based stabilization platform. They work together to secure packages if delivery trucks like Cody hit a pothole. Flow can also be reversed to glide packages into customers’ eager hands.
HANDLE with CARE
Good thing I’m a robot. I’ll make quick work of this, and folks seem to enjoy watching my moves, too.
CODY STATUS REPORT, 9:11 am
Handling Codex
Packages are marked with appropriate handling instructions to guide robotic arms, increasing efficiency and eliminating human error from the delivery process.
PICK UP and DROP OFF RIGHT AROUND the CORNER
Got here a little early. I’ll broadcast my location to see if others would like to drop off packages while I wait for Jen.
CODY STATUS REPORT, 9:35 am
Package Pick-Up Points
When not actively delivering goods, autonomous delivery platforms serve as pick-up points. Their location and availability are broadcasted to users nearby through occasional subtle beacon tones or mobile communication channels.
EASING CONGESTION
Traffic is picking up. Time for me to leave downtown to recharge, reload and drop off outgoing packages.
CODY STATUS REPORT, 4:00 pm
Hub Motor
Cody has dedicated electric hub motors at each wheel, optimizing both efficiency and traction.
CHARGE and LOAD
Back at the hub after a whopping 143 deliveries. Fully charged now and loading up with another batch of deliveries for the night shift.
CODY STATUS REPORT, 5:00 pm
Taking Turns
Autonomous delivery platforms operate 24 hours a day, allowing for charging during off-peak hours. Maintaining the right number of vehicles and offering a mix of sizes and capabilities ensure that a vehicle is available for any job at any time.
