Mercedes-Benz Vans has unveiled its Vision Van concept at the CES 2017 show in Las Vegas, bringing integrated delivery drones, intelligent cargo space and emission-free electric running.

Automatic order picking takes place at the logistics centre and consignments are loaded into special racking systems.

Previously announced at the Van Innovation Campus in Stuttgart, the fully interconnected, highly automated van brings a number of solutions for last-mile urban delivery operations.

The study draws upon the concept of a fully connected delivery chain, with algorithms to control order picking, the loading of packages, the fully automated cargo space management, route planning for the vehicle and the delivery drones. They also calculate ideal delivery routes for the package deliverer.

Automatic order picking takes place at the logistics centre, for example, and consignments are loaded into special racking systems. Driverless handling vehicles load the racks by way of an automated one-shot loading process. The intelligent cargo space management system automatically transfers packages for manual delivery to the deliverer at the delivery destination by means of a package dispenser on board the vehicle. At the same time, the system supplies two drones, each with a payload capacity of two kilogrammes, with consignments for autonomous delivery within a radius of 10 km.

The Vision Van also features joystick control and is powered by a 75 kW electric drive system with a range of up to 270km.

“With the Vision Van we are presenting the intelligent, clean and fully interconnected van of the future”, said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “The Vision Van integrates many concrete concepts for future delivery operations in the urban environment, such as a fully automatic cargo space, autonomously flying delivery drones and innovative communication features.