Zelos has opened Europe's first RoboVan experience center at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium.
Key Takeaways
·The center will remain open over the long term, with Zelos RoboVans operating regularly on the port's K102 route for evaluation by logistics operators, port stakeholders and industry partners.
·Zelos plans to use the port environment to evaluate the RoboVan in applications including transfers within industrial facilities and internal port transportation.
·Representatives from the Belgian government, regulatory bodies and local public-sector organizations attended the opening and discussed safety standards, operating efficiency, supporting infrastructure and regulatory requirements for broader deployment.
Image source: Zelos
Why It Matters
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a major European trade and logistics hub with extensive maritime connections and a large industrial logistics network. Locating the center there gives Zelos a setting in which its mapless Level 4 autonomous logistics technology can be assessed through continuing operations rather than a one-off demonstration. This may provide more representative evidence of how the technology performs in active European logistics environments.
Background
Brant Liu, general manager of Zelos Europe, said the company established the center in cooperation with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges authority. According to Liu, its purpose is to provide a long-term platform for demonstrating and evaluating autonomous logistics, moving the technology from short-term trials toward continuous real-world operation.
Data and Evidence
Zelos reports that more than 30,000 of its autonomous logistics vehicles are currently in active operation worldwide, with their cumulative driving distance exceeding 270 million kilometers. The vehicles use the company's internally developed, mapless Level 4 autonomous-driving technology. The company does not provide an independent methodology or geographic breakdown for the operating figures.
What to Watch Next
Zelos plans to use the Antwerp-Bruges center to expand cooperation with European governments, regulators, ports and logistics companies. The next points to watch are whether testing extends from internal port and industrial transfers to trunk-route connections, logistics-park operations and last-mile delivery, and what regulatory or operating requirements apply to those additional use cases.
