Dubai South has reported the successful completion of the initial phase of autonomous vehicle trials in the UAE. These trials took place on a specified route within the Dubai South Logistics District, following a partnership established with Evocargo in December 2022.

The collaboration aimed to verify the hardware, software, and operational reliability of Evocargo’s unmanned electric truck, the Evocargo N1, potentially paving the way for its future deployment within the Logistics District.

The trial emphasized safety in mixed traffic scenarios, focusing on interactions with participants such as automobiles, trucks, and pedestrians. Concurrently, the tests evaluated the Evocargo N1’s performance in object detection, accident prevention, collision avoidance with moving obstacles, and emergency stops.

Additionally, during the trials, the truck’s autopilot system underwent testing for parking, reverse parking, turning, and reverse turning. The control center was also assessed for functionalities, including route management, remote monitoring, and control.

Neither party reported any failures or hazardous incidents during the trials. In the second stage, Evocargo’s report on the trial results indicated that the Evocargo N1 platform successfully performed freight transportation tasks on a designated route within a controlled environment. The results also demonstrated the platform’s capability to effectively interact with its surroundings in mixed traffic conditions, meeting rigorous validation standards.

Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District, Dubai South, said, “As we look to the future, autonomous vehicles will play a pivotal role in revolutionizing the industry, enhancing efficiency, and reducing the overall carbon footprint to create a sustainable and technologically advanced logistics infrastructure that will benefit Dubai and the UAE.”

Ahmed Al-Ansi, CEO of Evocargo Autonomous Logistic Services, said, “The trials aim to attract new customers and investments in the GCC countries, which are on track for world leadership in innovative tech. We are proud to be a pioneer and one of the first commercial suppliers of cutting-edge services in cargo transportation based on our own electric unmanned vehicles.”

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