Smart Mobility Corridors: Exploring Freight Automation for Brown County, WI
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Date
2020-08
Authors
Cohen, Rachel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
What applications do emerging automation technologies have for the future of freight and shipping in Brown County?
The two-person University of Oregon team of Joshua Skov and Rachel Cohen assessed possible technology and vendor options for a “smart mobility” corridor for freight coming into and leaving from the Port of Green Bay.
To explore this possibility, the team conducted market research to determine the key technologies in question, including vendors and business models, and the extent to which they require surrounding 5G infrastructure, conducting interviews with industry thought leaders in automation and freight logistics to gain insight on technology applications, implementation, and best practices.
Based on this research and outside examples of AV testing and pilots, the team developed three potential deployment models for Brown County and assessed their feasibility. While there are indeed exciting opportunities for automation to disrupt freight and logistics, the team found that there is a lack of technology or business ecosystem maturity at this moment to recommend a particular public-sector investment or pilot project in Brown County at this time.
First, fully-autonomous vehicle technology is nascent; many have pushed back the notion of level 4 or 5 autonomous trucks reaching scale for a decade or more. Second, partial and conditional autonomy including driver assist features and platooning are sweeping the logistics industry, but do not require any special regulatory approval, since the State of Wisconsin recently approved the use of platooning.
However, the team lays out several next steps that Brown County can take to keep up with the pace of innovation in smart mobility. These include taking part in statewide strategy conversations, engaging with local industry, and investing in conventional infrastructure improvements, which will make the region an enticing opportunity for future deployments.
Description
15 pages