United Rentals Partners With 5D Robotics to Bring the Latest Autonomous Driving Technology to Its Rental Branches


CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwired - Dec 17, 2015) - United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), the largest equipment rental company in the world, and 5D Robotics, Inc., a leading provider of automation for the defense and energy sectors, have teamed up to bring the latest autonomous driving technology to United Rentals equipment operations. The 5D solution prevents collisions, enables multiple vehicles to follow a person or lead vehicle ("wagon-training"), and allows operators to quickly and easily create and modify autonomous paths throughout a facility. The 5D solution is much more accurate and reliable than GPS and can function in rain, dust, snow and fog.

Helge Jacobsen, United Rentals' Vice President of Operational Excellence, commented on the partnership:

"We're very excited to be moving forward with 5D Robotics. Seeing this reliable, safe, autonomous vehicle technology function in our rental yards has been an eye opener. The equipment can move from station to station within the yard. The integration with 5D offers substantial opportunities to improve our efficiency and safety, as well as provide new analytical and mapping tools to our own branches and eventually to our customers."

David Bruemmer, 5D Robotics' Co-Founder and CEO, believes that 5D has the best technology and team to take on this partnership:

"5D has pioneered precision positioning and autonomous driving software that performs reliably in difficult, dynamic environments. By adding our cross-platform plug and play modules, we can provide autonomy and enhance safety across United Rentals' fleet. We are excited to expand the application of autonomous vehicles into the equipment rental space with the industry leader. Our two companies share a passion to bring this innovative technology to hundreds of United Rentals locations, and, ultimately, to their customers."

ZTR Control Systems and SiTech RTD are joining United Rentals and 5D Robotics in the development of the new systems and solutions that will be utilized by United Rentals.

About 5D Robotics, Inc.
5D Robotics, Inc., located in Carlsbad, California, is a leader in the development of technologies that provide extremely accurate position and navigation, as well as industry leading obstacle avoidance and guarded motion systems that work in any environment, including those without GPS. 5D's technologies have been rigorously tested on over 30 robots and vehicles in military applications, and are now being adapted by numerous large commercial users. For more information, please visit: www.5drobotics.com.

About United Rentals
United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 900 rental locations in 49 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The company's approximately 12,700 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 3,300 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $8.95 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, the Barron's 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com. 

Contact Information:

For more information:
Laura Beauregard
Vantage PR, a PAN Communications company, for 5D Robotics
407. 767. 0452 x223