Abstract Manager

Much of the publicity and planning for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) has been focused on passenger CAVs. However, this is changing. The main focus for the remainder of the 2020s will be on CAVs for freight and service use-cases. Both categories have broad implications all levels of government, including municipalities. There are also numerous business opportunities for corporations.

The key CAV use-cases for the 2020s are:
•    Freight CAVs: inter-city, middle-mile, last-mile (often on sidewalks), and specialized applications such as logistics hubs, forestry, mining, and transporting cargo containers between planes and terminals.
•    Service applications: grass cutting (e.g, sports fields), snow clearing (especially sidewalks), automated agriculture, and garbage collection.

There are multiple initiatives of all of these in Canada and internationally. Examples include the Loblaw/Gatik service in Toronto; robots for vegetation cutting and snow clearing developed by Swap Robotics of Kitchener; Raven’s facility for automated agriculture just outside Regina; and truck platooning pilots in Alberta and Quebec.

There are four reasons why the freight and service segments are being prioritized.

First, CAVs for freight and performing services have more solid business cases which makes adoption quicker and easier.

Second, freight applications sometimes operate in closed ecosystems. And if they do use public roads, they often on fixed-routes and are therefore easier to deploy.

Third, many CAV service use-cases are off-road and it is easier to meet safety requirements.

Fourth, passenger CAVs that can go anywhere in almost any weather are proving to be more difficult to develop than was originally thought. Vehicle manufacturers are more focused on electric vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which are stepping stones to full CAVs. Large-scale deployment of passenger CAVs will not occur until the 2030s.

Together, these changes present both challenges and opportunities for all levels of government. For example, the cities of Toronto and Ottawa have imposed a ban on sidewalk delivery robots. There are opportunities for municipalities to save money on cutting grass on sports fields and on maintenance of sidewalks. Transport Canada is looking for ways to improve Canada’s supply chain, including addressing the significant shortage of drivers. Automated freight applications can help address this.

And there are many opportunities for corporations and academia to develop new products and services.

The paper will expand on all this and suggest action plans for stakeholders.