Locomation, a trucking technology platform that offers human-guided autonomous convoying, is forming a research project with the Transportation Research Center, a testing, research, and innovation center for the automotive industry located in East Liberty, Ohio. 

Locomation will actively test at TRC to advance its autonomous truck platforms alongside TRC’s research and development team.

The research will be conducted at TRC’s new 540-acre SmartCenter for testing advanced automotive and mobility technologies. The SmartCenter provides high-speed straightaways and cityscape simulations, providing a variety of intersection types, roundabouts, access ramps and other navigational situations that a vehicle would encounter in everyday driving.

By creating the ideal environment for autonomous vehicle and smart highway research, the SmartCenter allows opportunities to test these technologies in a safe, secure, and repeatable real-world environment, all before these vehicles and components are rolled out onto public roads and highways. 

In addition, the Locomation team and TRC’s engineering staff will work together to improve the company’s autonomous trucking platform through rigorous analyses and observations. TRC has been an independent partner of the world’s leading automotive and technology companies for more than 45 years, helping them test and perfect their products. 

Locomation is scheduled to continue testing at TRC throughout 2020 and will begin immediate work with TRC’s engineering and technical teams. 

Locomation is also testing its Autonomous Relay Convoy technology with Wilson Logistics. This allows one driver to pilot a lead truck equipped with technology augmentation while a follower truck operates in tandem through Locomation’s fully autonomous system. This allows the follower driver to log off and rest during this time.