In another step forward in the rise of autonomous vehicles, UPS has entered the self-driving market and has been delivering packages via self-driving trucks for the past few months.

Last week, the venture capital arm of UPS, UPS Ventures, announced that it made a minority investment in autonomous driving company TuSimple. The news comes as questions continue to surround the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles, as more and more companies adopt the technology.

In a statement, UPS said that, together, both companies are testing self-driving tractor trailers on a route in Arizona to determine whether the vehicles can improve service and efficiency in the UPS network. UPS said that this was an extension of the ongoing commercial relationship between UPS and TuSimple in which UPS has purchased transportation services from TuSimple.

According to UPS, the work with TuSimple began with the goal of helping UPS better understand the requirements for Level 4 autonomous trucking in its network. L4 autonomous means the vehicle's onboard computer is in complete control at all times, eliminating manual intervention. Currently, however, laws regulating L4 autonomous driving require a driver in the vehicle at all times to take over operation if needed.

Throughout the ongoing tests, UPS said, it has been providing truckloads of goods for TuSimple to carry on a North American freight forwarding route between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

The company initiated self-driving service in May 2019, with a driver and engineer in the vehicle. TuSimple and UPS monitor distance and time the trucks travel autonomously, safety data, and transport time.

"UPS is committed to developing and deploying technologies that enable us to operate our global logistics network more efficiently," said UPS's chief strategy and transformation officer, Scott Price. "While fully autonomous, driverless vehicles still have development and regulatory work ahead, we are excited by the advances in braking and other technologies that companies like TuSimple are mastering. All of these technologies offer significant safety and other benefits that will be realized long before the full vision of autonomous vehicles is brought to fruition —and UPS will be there, as a leader implementing these new technologies in our fleet."

Founded in 2015, TuSimple's stated mission is to bring the first self-driving truck to market, to increase safety, decrease transportation costs, and reduce carbon emissions. TuSimple develops technology that it expects will allow shipping companies to operate self-driving class 8 tractor-trailers – those that exceed 33,000 pounds and typically have three or more axles.

UPS contracts with third-party trucking companies during its peak shipping season. TuSimple believes it could cut average purchased transportation costs by 30 percent.

"We are honored by UPS's strategic investment and their vote of confidence in TuSimple; this proves their commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation," said TuSimple's founder, president, and chief technology officer, Xiaodi Hou. "TuSimple is confident that it can accelerate bringing the first self-driving truck to market to increase road safety."

UPS's tests with TuSimple are part of an advanced technology evaluation for vehicles in the UPS Global Smart Logistics Network. UPS is investing in Internet of Things technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics in a stated effort to increase fuel efficiency and improve customer service. One way that UPS explores new technologies is via its internal venture capital group UPS Ventures, which was established in 1997 as the UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund ("SEF").

In 2018, the SEF refined its objective and took the new name UPS Ventures. The group now seeks specific capabilities that UPS can integrate into its network immediately. UPS Ventures takes a minority stake in technology startups and actively partners with these companies to achieve technology goals for the UPS Smart Logistics Network.

"The UPS Ventures mission is to build collaborative relationships with early-stage companies that provide capabilities and insights that accelerate technological advancements within our network," said Todd Lewis, the managing partner of UPS Ventures. "UPS Ventures collaborates with startups to explore new technologies and tailor them to help meet our specific needs."

This piece first published at law.com.

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UPS enters the autonomous vehicle market

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