Ford to deliver 4,500 kg of groceries in Detroit using autonomous shuttle
Just in time for the holidays, Ford Motor Company, together with its charitable arm Ford Motor Company Fund, is launching a pilot project to deliver fresh groceries in southwest Detroit, Michigan, using specialized autonomous vehicle technology.
The six-month pilot will run in the Central Michigan area, where the company is putting mobility innovation and community at the forefront. It is one of the first projects to revitalize Central Michigan's core. It is expected to deliver more than 4,500 kg of fresh groceries to older adults who lack access to food due to mobility challenges.
Residents of the Rio Vista Detroit Co-op Apartments senior living center will now see their existing food deliveries as part of a free program, the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC), launched earlier in 2021 by Ford Fund and Gleaners Community Food Bank. Within the coming weeks, they will receive an additional batch of groceries. The program and pilot are important for more than 20 Rio Vista residents who have already chosen this free service as a reliable way to get groceries without needing safe transportation.
“We are constantly thinking about how to expand reach in communities for those who lack access to the most basic goods, such as groceries or hot meals. Combining Ford's mobility expertise with local collaboration allows us to create innovative solutions that make communities stronger and people's lives better”
Ford Fund and Gleaners have distributed 1.08 million kg of food through the delivery program and Ford Resource and Engagement Centers. Currently, participants receive a mix of dry and canned goods, as well as fresh products, including milk and cheese. Now, senior center residents will receive new deliveries each month containing additional fresh produce and milk. Items were selected based on feedback from current participants and will be reassessed throughout the pilot.
“CSI and Rio Vista Detroit Co-op are thrilled to work with Ford Motor Company. For many older adults in this community, access to transportation is essential to maintaining their independence, and the autonomous vehicle delivery program will help expand our members' access to grocery stores, removing one of the barriers to independent living. We hope that with one less worry, our members can focus on family, coordinating doctor visits, handling everyday responsibilities, and spending time on what they enjoy, such as volunteering!”
The pilot will use a low-speed autonomous shuttle operated by Ford's Autonomous Vehicles of the Future team and Quantum Signal AI, a wholly owned Ford subsidiary. The shuttle will travel a fixed route between the Resource and Engagement Center in southwest Detroit (where bags will be loaded) and the center itself, where groceries will be unloaded and distributed among participating residents.
A human driver will remain inside the shuttle at all times and be monitored by a remote operations team that can also intervene when necessary. Ford's experienced development team has modified the pilot vehicle to efficiently carry fresh groceries and to ease loading and unloading.
The shuttle's exterior, representing southwest Detroit, was created by Detroit School of Arts student Brooke Snow. It conveys an inclusive community message. Snow plans to use the $5,000 she received for her design to pay college expenses.
“Creating people-centered and inclusive mobility is a core focus of how we think about designing future services. By working with the community and displaying this artwork throughout the pilot, we show how we think about creating services that make people's lives better for everyone, not just one specific group”
Ford is exploring various mobility solutions in and around Central Michigan, including in Detroit's innovative Corktown district. As part of this grocery delivery pilot, the company aims to study the best methods of autonomous goods delivery for the future, from both technical and experimental perspectives, including ways to meet the needs of people living in underserved communities.
Ford Fund operates the Southwest Detroit Ford Resource and Engagement Center, which opened its doors in 2013. The community space serves as a gathering place for residents to develop new talents and acquire new skills, while providing access to essential services.
As the charitable arm of automaker Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund has supported underserved and underrepresented communities for more than 70 years. Working with nonprofit organizations, community partners, and the entire Ford network in the U.S. and around the world, Ford Fund provides resources and opportunities that promote equity and help people reach their highest potential.
Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2.1 billion in initiatives that meet basic needs, provide access to essential services, offer tools for developing new skills, and open doors to high-quality jobs.
