Outrider, a leader in autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, has announced the latest release of its AI-driven perception technology, setting a new standard for autonomous yard performance and safety. Trained on millions of data points from Fortune 500 customer distribution yards, Outrider’s yard automation solution demonstrates an understanding of, anticipation of, and interaction with the diverse array of fixed and moving elements within a yard. The updated perception system aims to achieve critical safety and performance milestones for commercial driverless operations in 2024.

Andrew Smith, Outrider Founder and CEO, emphasized the complexity of distribution yards as outdoor environments, stating that Outrider’s autonomous system is designed to seamlessly operate alongside various actors, including yard trucks, semi-trucks, trailers, delivery trucks, golf carts, pallets, and personnel. The latest perception technology enhances the efficiency and safety of Outrider’s autonomous system in moving customer trailers and containers.

Outrider’s advanced perception technology identifies specific characteristics of yard actors, such as orientation, position, and velocity, anticipates their trajectories, and responds using predictable, human-like behaviors. Deep-learning models, based on a vast dataset collected from diverse distribution yards, enable the autonomous system to continuously improve its intelligence and precision in automating yard tasks.

Luciano Spinello, Senior Director of Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence at Outrider, highlighted the system’s continuous learning from real-world experiences, drawing from the industry’s largest dataset to operate in more complex traffic scenarios and move trailers with the highest degree of safety and speed over 24-hour periods.

To facilitate the latest perception capabilities, Outrider upgraded its multi-modal sensor platform on each autonomous yard truck, increasing range and sensor data tenfold. This enhancement supports critical safety and performance objectives for scaled driverless operations. Outrider has been collecting perception-based data points across various distribution yards, contributing to the safety and efficiency of operations at each customer site.

The release of the latest perception technology complements Outrider’s industry-firsts and patented innovations, enabling fully autonomous trailer movement, including hitching, backing, trailer brake line connection, and yard inventory tracking. Outrider’s breakthrough year in 2023 includes the addition of trailer inventory tracking technology, a 20% expansion of its engineering workforce in Europe and Latin America, and the announcement of a $73 million Series C financing round, bringing total funding to $191 million.