THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE OF LOGISTICS FUTURE, LOGISTICS AND TECHNOLOGY
The logistics sector is going through a phase of rapid and complex transformation, increasingly intertwined with economics, politics and environmental issues. The key to best addressing the problems that may arise is undoubtedly technology, which represents the heart of this evolution in search of efficient, innovative and sustainable solutions.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
During the pandemic, many people have relied on e-commerce; this has generated an increase in pressure on transport systems and logistics. Today, consumers want to receive products in 24/48 hours, and in addition to vehicle traffic, this has also led to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions, also raising the issue of sustainability: companies are increasingly called upon to be competitive, efficient and fast in deliveries and transport, without forgetting to reduce the environmental impact of their transport by adopting low or zero-emission vehicles such as electric or hydrogen vehicles. Artificial intelligence can improve route planning and fleet management, increasing efficiency. However, the introduction of autonomous vehicles raises issues of safety, regulation and employment. Their integration will require regulatory adaptation and significant investments in infrastructure. The transition to greener fleets, however, presents technical and infrastructural obstacles, such as the availability of charging points and the initial purchase cost. In addition, supply chain management must integrate more sustainable practices, reduce empty trips and optimize routes to minimize emissions.
AUTONOMOUS DRIVING: THE GREAT CHALLENGE
The ability of a vehicle to move and make decisions autonomously, with the help of sensors, radar, cameras and appropriate dedicated software, is called autonomous driving, and represents one, if not the most important, challenge in the field of transport for the near future. In practice, the vehicle will no longer need a driver and will be able to independently control speed, acceleration and braking and direction of travel. The combination of different technologies will allow the surrounding environment to be studied to detect obstacles, road signs and other vehicles. In several countries, including Italy, different types of autonomous driving are being attempted, ranging from level 1 of assisted driving, which could include speed control functions and automatic emergency braking, to level 5, which would allow the vehicle to completely manage the driving, without any intervention by the driver. Once the legislative and safety issues have been resolved, autonomous driving promises to revolutionize the concept of mobility
