Ford’s autonomous supply experiments now embrace doubtlessly important companies. The automaker is launching a six-month pilot mission that may have self-driving shuttles deliver recent meals to residents of a Detroit senior residing middle, the Rio Vista Detroit Co-Op Apartments, which may in any other case have challenges fetching groceries. The free-of-charge providing could have the “low-speed” car drive a set route between a Ford facility and Rio Vista, with a security driver and a distant staff able to take over if essential.

Notably, the shuttle does not contain Ford’s associate Argo — it is a distinct effort between Ford’s in-house autonomy staff and the corporate’s Quantum Signal AI subsidiary. The two have modified the shuttle to assist with packing and unloading meals, nevertheless it’s in any other case a inventory machine (so far as autonomous shuttles go, at the least).

There’s actually a level of publicity grabbing concerned — Ford is conducting a pilot that doubles as a goodwill marketing campaign. This will assist Ford research slower self-driving know-how and distant management, although. It additionally hints at a future the place driverless autos assist seniors keep their high quality of life when journey is impractical.