The future of automation

“The Volvo Group has been conducting research into autonomous vehicles for several years and we are delighted to have already developed a solution that we believe will ultimately revolutionise the mining industry. We expect to be able to significantly increase our customers’ productivity while at the same time improving fuel efficiency and safety,” says Torbjörn Holmström, member of Volvo’s Group Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer.

The research project is a cooperative venture in which the Volvo Group and Saab – through its wholly owned technology consulting company Combitech – are partnering to develop a fully autonomous transport system solution. This unique truck, which is a fully fitted out construction vehicle, navigates and operates entirely autonomously both above and underground.

It uses sensors and GPS technology to continuously read its surroundings, navigating fixed and movable obstacles while gathering data via its transport system in order to further optimise its route and traffic safety. The truck requires no manual supervision, but rather is part of the customer’s total transport solution that controls the entire production process. The truck developed by the Volvo Group is one of several research projects being carried out to develop and test various aspects of autonomous solutions. The aim of these projects is to create sustainable transport solutions and improve traffic safety, which benefits both the customer and society as a whole.

“Automation is an exciting field of technology where advances are moving quickly. Solutions already exist and we expect to see more autonomous solutions in the future. But our customers are already benefiting from this technology today since we apply the same principles to our active safety systems,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo.