The Volvo Group has been conducting research into autonomous transport solutions for several years and has demonstrated concept vehicles for applications in confined areas like mines and quarries. Now they are taking 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.

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. It was revealed at the Volvo Group Innovation Summit in Beijing on 15 November and underscores the company‘s position as innovating pioneers of the transport solutions of tomorrow.

This pioneering truck, 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 optimise its route, traffic safety and fuel consumption.

“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,” says Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO at Volvo Group. “No matter what type of solution we develop, safety is always our primary concern and this applies to all our self-driving projects”.

You can watch the video with the self-driving truck at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGgIosoT9J0