Autonomous Freight Systems and Logistics Automation

This chapter analyses how automation and autonomous systems are transforming freight logistics within the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) landscape. It reviews enabling technologies such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR), radar, computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), vehicle to everything communication, and digital twins, showing how their integration supports real-time coordination. Applications include long-haul autonomous trucking, middle-mile distribution, last-mile delivery robots and drones, and highly automated warehouses. International examples from the United States, Europe, Asia, and India illustrate gains in efficiency, safety, reliability, and emissions reduction, alongside limits in infrastructure and governance. The chapter examines key challenges in adverse weather sensing, cybersecurity, liability and regulation, interoperability, and workforce transition. It concludes with policy and standards pathways for safe scaling, emphasizing phased adoption, data governance, and alignment of technical, operational, and institutional capabilities.