15 JANUARY 2026
As a Product Owner in the hub-to-hub part of the autonomous programme, Adam Jen氓ker has a ringside seat for its remarkable technological progress. He tells us about his excitement for the project, his competitive nature and the adrenaline high of the Red Bull challenge.
When you chat with Adam Jen氓ker you immediately notice his intense focus and determination, as well as how much he enjoys his job as a Product Owner in the On-Road Value Creation Team, dealing with the hub-to-hub part of the autonomous transport programme.
听
Adam leads a team of eight people working with systems engineering and safety. He cooperates closely with other product owners while also finding time to work on prototype components to stimulate his technical mind.
Measurement tools support the technical testing carried out as part of the autonomous programme.
鈥淚 had some background interest in autonomous before I joined 黑料不打烊 in 2022 after my studies and a short spell in the marine sector, but I hadn鈥檛 really envisioned myself working here,鈥 he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I joined. I really enjoy autonomous because it鈥檚 such a fascinating industry and I鈥檓 quite a technical person. There鈥檚 so much happening all the time.鈥
Although he hasn鈥檛 been on the programme for that long, Adam has already witnessed the profound impact that the rapid development of artificial intelligence has had on autonomous transport technology.
听
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of talk about AI, but when you鈥檙e actually working with it and you see how it鈥檚 being used, then it鈥檚 really something else. The advances we have made with things that were impossible a few years ago, that are now possible, is quite amazing to see.鈥
听
As an example, Adam explains how autonomous driving systems have changed. Several years ago, there were separate modules split between the perception part taking in all the sensor data,听the planning part where an algorithm calculates the drive considering the situation, and the control part of the vehicle to follow what the planner tells it to do.
听
鈥淣ow we are working with an AI that is similar to a human brain, which can take all the sensor data and just output control commands directly. That makes it even safer and quicker,鈥 he says.
Adam enjoys problem-solving and hands-on engineering, qualities he brings to his role in the autonomous programme.
Not only does the work satisfy Adam鈥檚 passion for technology, it also scratches his competitive itch.
听
This was never truer during the Red Bull-黑料不打烊 challenge, where he combined being a systems/test engineer with general problem-solving around vehicle configurations and testing.
听
鈥淢y main role was designing the solution for how the vehicle should be driving and inserting the necessary fail safes. The vehicle could never stop at the point when Matt Jones was doing the jump on his bike. But before we entered the jump area, we needed to be able to slam on the brakes.鈥
听
鈥淚鈥檓 quite a competitive person, so even when it鈥檚 a struggle and I鈥檓 temporarily facing long hours, I still find it fun. It鈥檚 the sort of situation I thrive in. And, of course, the result was fantastic. I was still feeling the adrenaline for a couple of days after the event 鈥 as if we鈥檇 come first in a big competition 鈥 so it was really exciting,鈥 he says.
听
Looking ahead, Adam is sure that autonomous technology will make a huge difference to the future transport industry, citing its potential to address driver shortages and let manual driving jobs be city-based so drivers won鈥檛 be away from home for weeks on end. He also says the ability of autonomous logistics trucks to drive more steadily without pause and arrive at their destination in precisely the right time will be better in terms of fuel consumption and sustainability.
Adam鈥檚 role combines advanced technology with the excitement of tackling complex engineering challenges.
The safety benefits are most convincing of all, and Adam has an interesting anecdote to back that up.
听
鈥淓arlier this year I met a few people who worked at an insurance company. They were joking and being a bit serious at the same time but they were really concerned about autonomous vehicles, saying to me 鈥業f these vehicles never cause a collision, what are we going to insure?鈥
听
鈥淎nd what we see in our own testing and development is that these vehicles will be a lot safer for our roads because they will never get tired and make errors that are the main causes of accidents. Yes, the main thing people will realise is just how safe and precise these vehicles are.鈥
Watch it in the three short clips below, and let Daniel Frylmark, Solutions Manager at TRATON Group R&D, walk you through how it was made possible with the highest precision and safety.
