Rewe tests deliveries with autonomous vehicle

The supermarket chain Rewe is testing the delivery of groceries with an autonomous vehicle in Bochum. According to Rewe, this is the first deployment of an autonomous delivery vehicle in the food retail sector in Germany.

"With our pilot vehicle, we want to test how highly automated driving vehicles can usefully complement our existing delivery processes", said Kai-Uwe Reimers, Head of Research & Innovation Rewe digital. The pilot project in western Bochum is scheduled to last around six months.

The vehicle is an ID. Buzz

During this time, a specially converted ID. Buzz from Volkswagen will deliver ordered groceries. The company Loxo has equipped the vehicle accordingly. The Swiss start-up has developed the Loxo Digital Driver (LDD) software architecture, with which vehicles can be used fully autonomously in urban logistics, according to the company. As early as 2023, the company tested deliveries with a semi-autonomous vehicle in Switzerland.

Equipped with the LDD, the electric VW bus will be highly automated in Bochum, i.e., Level 4. This means the vehicle drives itself. Only when it can no longer proceed does a human take over. A safety driver is therefore still on board the test vehicle. For comparison, Waymo and Zoox robotaxis in the USA operate without a safety person on board. Zoox vehicles no longer even have pedals and a steering wheel.

(wpl)