Self-driving yard truck developer Outrider has developed a system to robotically join electrical and pressurized brake strains to trailers and container chassis.

The Golden, Colo., firm’s TrailerConnect system makes use of robotic arms from Yaskawa Electrical Corp. and reduces the necessity for drivers to continuously get out and in of truck cabs to manually make the connections.

Furthermore, Outrider’s system addresses the issue of cargo containers with completely different connecting programs through the use of the robotic arms to find and determine completely different connection patterns amongst trailers.

The know-how depends on software-based algorithms, {hardware} and sensors which are built-in into the robotic arms and is a part of Outrider’s objective to supply electrical, self-driving vans to automate freight yards.

“TrailerConnect automates a harmful job historically carried out over 6 billion occasions yearly worldwide,” Outrider CEO Andrew Smith stated.

Outrider says TrailerConnect and its autos may give companies with giant warehouses and distribution facilities automated operations by permitting its self-driving yard vans to robotically again trailers into dock spots, hitch and unhitch trailers and brake strains.

Outrider spent 4 years creating TrailerConnect with the enter from its clients.

In 2021, Outrider labored with consumer-packaged items big Georgia-Pacific to equip its Elmwood, In poor health., distribution middle with autos that accomplished 1,000 autonomous, zero-emission trailer strikes.

Outrider additionally has new plans to advance how its vans are powered. They’re at present plugged in by staff once they’re inspected between shifts. However sooner or later, the vans shall be charged by driving over inductive coils within the yard, and charging shall be scheduled and monitored by Outrider’s software program.

Based in 2017, Outrider has raised $118 million from buyers, together with industrial warehouse big Prologis, Koch Disruptive Applied sciences and Evolv Ventures, Kraft Heinz’ $100 million enterprise fund.