Evocargo autonomous trucks automate PEC warehouse logistics

2023: Warehouse Logistics Automation Agreement

The multi-service logistics operator PEC and the company Evocargo, which provides service on the basis of electric autonomous platforms of its own production, decided to cooperate in the field of using autonomous transport for logistics.

The corresponding agreement was signed on June 14, 2023 by the co-owner of PEC Vadim Filatov and Evocargo CEO Marcel Nigmetyazyanov.

As part of the agreement, it is planned to use Evocargo autonomous electric trucks to transport goods in closed areas of the PEC. The Evocargo service based on the company's autonomous transport will be used for uninterrupted and accident-free transportation of goods at terminals, warehouses, fulfillment centers of the logistics operator, contributing to improving the efficiency of transport processes and reducing the level of emergencies with human factors. The partners will also develop functional and technical requirements for autonomous category N3 trucks manufactured by Evocargo specifically for IEC.

Marcel Nigmetzyanov, CEO of Evocargo, commented that the signing of the memorandum is a landmark event for both parties, which will mark the beginning for strong and mutually beneficial cooperation between companies in the development of autonomous logistics.

Vadim Filatov, co-owner, deputy director of PEC, recalled that PEC already has experience in operating autonomous Evocargo trucks at warehouse sites. The company launched its first experiment in 2020. The autonomous platform EVO-1 delivered goods between PEC warehouses. The experiment showed a decrease in the number of downtime and zero accident rate, despite the high traffic of the PEC logistics center in Moscow, in Butovo.

The pilot operation was successful. In addition, Evocargo has developed and released more technological truck models in three years that scan space and see obstacles in the way. Thanks to this, PEC can launch regular unmanned transportation through the territory of its logistics centers. We expect to speed up delivery by 14% due to the continuous movement of trucks, as well as reduce the number of downtime at the loading and unloading stages.

2021: Launch of an inter-yard drone into commercial operation

In April 2021 IEC , it launched the first Russia commercial operation drone for inter-yard transportation. The company EvoCargo announced this on May 12, 2021. For this, a hub logistic Moscow in Butovo was chosen, and the partner was the service company in the field of transportation by unmanned electric logistic platforms "Evocargo." The goal is to increase the frequency of transportation and the efficiency of cargo. transportation

A cargo electric unmanned platform EVO-1 moves between the PEC warehouses in Butovo, it carries goods with a total weight of up to 1.5 tons. It is planned that with full capacity, the drone will make more than 35 flights daily and transport from 2 to 6 pallets at the same time.

At the first stage, the platform carries 40 pallets daily, moving at a speed of no more than 8 km/h. This is due to the high traffic density at the warehouse in Butovo, as well as the need to control the movement of the unmanned platform. But this already allows you to achieve the required transportation capacity of 35 flights per day.

On average, 22 hours a day, the platform is available for work, no more than 2 hours a day is spent on recharging and maintenance.

The territory of the PEC logistics hub in Butovo is 35 thousand square meters. m There are 2 storage buildings between which loads are moved.

The full implementation of the unmanned platform is expected to reduce intra-warehouse movements by 20% compared to the standard movement of pallets - using loaders and trucks.

EVO-1 is equipped with a hybrid power system from electric batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, supports smart road technology (V2X). It moves thanks to technical vision using cameras. For this, road markings were applied on the territory of the logistics complex in accordance with the rules for public roads. No additional infrastructure is required in enclosed areas.

Cargo transportation using drones in closed areas is one of the main niches where autonomous trucks can already be fully operated, benefiting business and, importantly, allowing to improve the environmental situation at the facilities. The joint project with PEC - one of the largest logistics providers - is flagship for us and at the same time special for Russia. So far, these are closed territories, but soon, as soon as the legislative framework is formed, trunk transportation by drones will appear, - comments the founder and general director of Evocargo Andrei Bolshakov.

It is possible to talk endlessly theoretically about the prospects for unmanned transportation. We decided to try practically, right in our logistics complex, in a closed area. A lot of details: insurance, road markings, parking, heavy traffic, interaction with the warehouse, cargo fastening. Most of these issues are not technical, but without solving them, you cannot effectively use zero. This valuable experience will allow us to quickly solve similar issues on unmanned main tractors, - said Oleg Skovorodnikov, director of digital transformation at PEK.

2020: Use of EVO-1 on the territory of the logistics center

On December 4, 2020, EvoCargo announced to TAdviser that, together with the First Expeditionary Company (PEK), they were launching a commercial project to introduce a cargo transportation service for unmanned vehicles EVO-1 in a closed area. Transportation will be organized on the territory of the logistics center of the Butovo PEC. The corresponding memorandum of cooperation of the company was signed on December 1, 2020.

The first commercial project on unmanned cargo transportation starts in Russia

The PEC transit hub in Butovo covers an area of ​ ​ 35 thousand square meters. This is 20% more than the area of ​ ​ other PEC distribution centers in Moscow.

The cargo electric unmanned platform will EVO-1 run through the hub and carry various cargo with a total weight of up to 1.5 tons between PEC warehouses. More than 1,000 flights a month are planned.

Each truck flight will deliver 2 to 6 pallets. On the basis of the PEK, a dispatching center will be organized to control the movement of an unmanned platform on the territory of the complex. For the first three months, the operation of the machine will be controlled by a remote operator.

The small-tonnage truck EVO-1 equipped with a hybrid power system from electric batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, supports smart road technology (V2X). Additional infrastructure for the operation of the logistics system based on unmanned vehicles "EvoCargo" in closed areas is not required. The drone moves thanks to technical vision using cameras.

Transportation of goods using drones as a service is beneficial to customers. This is saving fuel, material, financial resources, trouble-free driving. In addition, our Driverless-Truck-as-a-Service business model assumes that we fully undertake all operational tasks, creating a whole ecosystem of unmanned cargo transportation. All these factors together create great prospects for the use of transport automation in the territory of logistics complexes, comments Andrey Bolshakov, founder and general director of EvoCargo.

The implementation of the project with EvoCargo will allow us to gain experience in operating an unmanned truck without a driver. This is a difficult task, given the presence of other cars on the territory of the logistics complex. Separate development requires drone parking, loading and unloading. There is also a need to ensure that the machine is charged with electricity. We will learn to ride unmanned vehicles in a closed area and will definitely go to public roads. We need unmanned main tractors, I am sure that our partners from EvoCargo will be able to offer PEK such a technology in the future, comments Director of the Digital Transformation Department of PEC Oleg Skovorodnikov.

Autonomous transport can change the economy of not only logistics companies, but also entire industries. In Russia, there are all the conditions for the start of unmanned freight traffic, the PEC expert notes. First of all, there is a legislative framework governing the field of use of unmanned vehicles.

According to UBS analysts, by 2030 the volume of the entire unmanned transport market in Russia will amount to about $9.5 billion in the event of the launch of commercial unmanned cargo transportation, and the development of innovative technologies through the partnership of leading companies in the industry will be of paramount importance for the commercial operation of drones not only in Russia, but also in the world.