Bradshaw Electric Vehicles is to use technology from Fusion Processing to develop fully autonomous uncrewed tow tractors (writes Nick Flaherty).

The tractors are used extensively in factories, warehouse and airport logistics to haul baggage trailers and goods trucks. Making these autonomous can improve safety and make logistics more efficient.

Fusion Processing’s CAVstar control and sensing system will be used in Bradshaw’s third-generation T700 and T800 tractors, which are based around a 48 V powertrain. CAVstar uses machine learning on a range of sensors including Lidar, optical cameras and ultrasonics to build up a picture of the environment around the vehicle, and plots the most efficient safe route through it.

That means the autonomous tow tractors can be operated safely inside factories where a GPS signal is unavailable and without the need for extensive infrastructure to be installed. CAVstar can also be retrofitted to any vehicle, to control the throttle, braking and steering systems to provide full autonomous operation.

CAVstar is now being used on a full-sized autonomous bus in trials in Scotland.