SUMMARY READER RESPONSE DRAFT #1 -2

The article “Drone Truck startup Einride unveils new driverless vehicles for autonomous freight hauling” written by Hawkins(2020) highlights the features and applications of Autonomous Electric Transport (AET) to transport commodities across the land at cheap cost and with less pollution

Hawkins states that Einride has been launching intriguing and eye-catching prototype vehicles since 2016, including a cab-less pod in 2017 in collaboration with a German logistics business and an electric truck transporting freight for a Swedish food manufacturer.

The AET is designed to be “sleek, white, cab-less pods with smooth lines and an otherworldly feel”. It also includes several hardware and software configurations such as an “electric drivetrain”, “proprietary telematics hardware” and “autonomous drive” sensors and camera. Depending on their demands and sector of operation, all electric components are configurable and may be operated remotely by human operators.

The vehicle is available in four different levels and configurations. AET 1 is designed to work within a geofence, while AET 2 is designed to operate outside of a geofence via teleoperation, AET 3 is meant for rural use, and AET 4 is built for highway use. Despite the fact that all four AETs have identical weights and cargo capacities, AET 3 and 4 have much higher maximum speeds than AET 1 and 2.

Thesis statement:
AET is the future of cargo transportation with lower cost, lower air pollution as well as ability to travel in different domains but does not have situational thinking skills compared to drivers.

Hawkins, A. J. (2020, October 8). Drone truck startup einride unveils new driverless vehicles for autonomous freight hauling. The Verge. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/8/21506125/einride-self-driving-truck-pod-aet-reveal