Ohio Rural Automated Project
EASE partnered with DriveOhio, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Transportation and Research Center (TRC), and Bosch to deploy automated and connected trucks on customer freight shipments for the first time in the U.S. as part of the Ohio Rural Automated Driving Systems (ADS) project.
A CATALYST FOR CHANGE
EASE Logistics Partners with DriveOhio and ODOT for Groundbreaking Automated Truck Deployment in Rural Ohio
In 2022, EASE was selected as the host fleet partner for the Ohio Rural Automated Driving Systems (ADS) Project, focused on the deployment of automated trucking technology on customer freight shipments in collaboration with DriveOhio, ODOT, TRC, and other notable partners.
The ADS Project studied how automated semi-trucks connected by AI technology react to real-world scenarios such as winding roads and hilly terrain within rural settings. EASE is proud to stand as one of the first to deploy automated trucking technology on customer freight shipments in the U.S.!
The Results: Ohio Deployments of Automated Vehicles Highlighted Unique Considerations for Rural Environments
In a little under a year, following the project’s conclusion, nearly 60 terabytes of data were collected. These learnings will enable the next phase of learning and testing.
Key Highlights:
- Semi-Truck Platooning: Two automated EASE Logistics semi-trucks covered nearly 44,000 miles, with more than 11,000 miles in platooning mode, improving fuel efficiency by an estimated 10% and reducing driver stress.
- Technology Performance Insights: Identified moments when trucks experienced disengagements, highlighting key areas for future refinement.
- Data-Driven Research: Students at Youngstown State University analyzed project data using AI and machine learning to enhance future autonomous systems.
Safe Truck Platooning
Highly specialized and heavily vetted EASE drivers underwent 400 hours (about 2.5 weeks) of training at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in Columbus, OH. These drivers conducted preliminary solo runs to monitor data transmissions allowing EASE and identify the best Ohio routes for platooning.
This technology was thoroughly and comprehensively tested by Bosch and the TRC before being released to EASE for platooning and deployment on routes.
Josh McMullen
EASE Director of Business Excellence & Governance
Platooning mode required that both trucks be manned with a highly trained EASE driver and occurred in very specific and ideal circumstances – weather, road conditions, and traffic were taken into consideration when EASE drivers choose the perfect moment during a route to engage platooning mode.
In this deployment, platooning mode disengages at the discretion of both trucks’ drivers, and the driver of the follower truck can override platooning mode to take manual control at any moment. Platooning mode, in this testing scenario, disengaged automatically if any vehicle cut-in between the two semi-trucks.
