Volvo has unveiled a new driverless truck which it says is an “innovative transport solution to drive safety and productivity”.
The company says that the self-driving truck, driving autonomously from one hub to another, is part of a development project exploring how automation can contribute to increased productivity, enhanced safety and lower environmental impact.
Volvo says that, in showing the truck, such aims and goals have for the first time been demonstrated to a broader audience.
The demonstration was conducted in conjunction with the Volvo Group Innovation Summit in Beijing yesterday.
Volvo claims this underscores the company’s position as “innovating pioneers of the transport solutions of tomorrow”.
Volvo says it has been conducting research into autonomous transport solutions for several years.
The company has previously demonstrated concept vehicles for applications in confined areas like mines and quarries.
Now Volvo Group takes the next step towards the future with an autonomous concept truck for hub-to-hub transportations in semi-confined areas like harbours and dedicated lanes on highways.
Autonomous solutions bring benefits and serve the needs of both the customer and of society, says Volvo.
This “pioneering truck”, says Volvo, is based on an existing FH platform, navigates and operates entirely autonomously using Lidar and GPS technology to continuously read its surroundings, navigating around fixed and movable obstacles while gathering data via its on-board transport system in order to further optimize its route, traffic safety and fuel consumption.
The truck “requires no manual supervision”, but rather is part of the customer’s total transport solution that controls the entire delivery process, says Volvo.
Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO at Volvo Group, says: “Although this technology may be years away from production, it will undoubtedly influence our future offering and has the potential to develop smart societies for the future.
“No matter what type of solution we develop, safety is always our primary concern and this applies to all our self-driving projects.”
