Ford’s AV Associate Director of Operations, Joe Provenzano, discusses their real-world research, that is being conducted in Miami with Postmates, in the delivery of packages via simulated driverless vehicles. This research is helping determine the human factors that need to be considered in the development of their next-generation vehicles; vehicles which are slated for production in 2021.

This Medium article by Alexander Buznego, Miami Market Manager for Ford Autonomous Vehicles, LLC, provides additional detail regarding their research. The article highlights their work with Miami businesses, including a florist, dry cleaning service and a boutique pet care shop. He makes the case that a turnkey, driverless delivery could be a boon for small businesses, essentially allowing their retail presence to extend beyond their physical location.