At a time when we talk more about self-driving cars and global companies’ investments in technology, especially automation, what about self-driving trucks that are put to use in confined areas? With no requirement of driver, these trucks are on their own, and can increase productivity and safety.
At Boliden Mine, Sweden, self-driving Volvo FMX trucks are being tested in regular operations; Renova Refuse truck reverses automatically and the driver collects refuse around houses; use of automation in sugar cane harvesting in Brazil helps in reduction of up to 100% of truck trampling-related losses; and platooning can reduce air drag, as trucks can drive close to each other in a controlled convoy.
The above are some of the pilots that Volvo Trucks is involved in along with partners. A visit to Volvo Trucks’ headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, throws open the world of automation in trucks and how the global truck manufacturer is preparing itself for the automation journey, viewing safety as the highest priority.
“Technology is changing rapidly, and automation is already happening in society. It will change the industry in terms of productivity, safety and energy efficiency. There are different solutions in different areas — like confined areas and on-road,” says Mikael Karlsson, Vice President (Productivity and New Concepts), Volvo Trucks.
In case of automated solutions, humans are very much at the centre. Volvo Trucks’ automation first works with confined areas like mining and private yards, among other areas, and then comes on-road.
Elaborating about automation in mining, Sasko Cuklev, Director of Customer Solutions and New Concepts at Volvo Trucks, says that Volvo FMX trucks are being tested in regular operations at the Boliden mine in Kristineberg, Sweden.
The aim is to examine how this technology can contribute to safe and productive transport in tough geographically limited application areas. The vehicles used in the mine are series-built Volvo FMX trucks equipped with new functionality.
Among other things, they include a system incorporating radar/laser-based sensors. This system is initially used to monitor the mine’s geometry and to generate a map of the route that the truck has to traverse. The collected information is then used to regulate the vehicle’s steering, gear changes and speed. On every new trip, the sensors are used to continuously scan the area around the truck and further optimise both the operation and the route.
Apart from mining, Volvo trucks are also undergoing pilots in other areas, such as sugarcane harvesting in Brazil.
The new self-steering truck is said to be a significant productivity booster for Brazilian sugarcane growers. The truck, which is used to transport newly harvested sugarcane, is steered with great precision through the fields in order to avoid damaging the young plants that will form the following year’s crop.
“It helps the driver avoid running over the crop for the next year’s harvest. With the help of GPS receivers, the truck follows a coordinate-based map across the sugarcane field. It helps in reduction of up to 100% of truck trampling-related losses,” says Cuklev.
Volvo Trucks is also into another pilot — Renova Refuse Truck. There is a risk of accidents when refuse trucks reverse in housing areas. But what if there is a self-driving truck that reverses automatically and the driver collects refuse around houses? This is exactly what Volvo Trucks is doing in association with Swedish waste management company Renova. Volvo Trucks is currently testing and researching how automated vehicles can contribute to safer, more efficient refuse handling and create a better working environment for drivers.
The automated systems being tested are in principle the same as those fitted to the autonomous Volvo truck operating at the Kristineberg mine.
Experts at Volvo Trucks in Sweden also explained the concept of platooning. Using connectivity, trucks in a platoon can communicate with each other. Trucks are closer to each other and communicate. If the first truck applies brakes, the second and the third one will also brake automatically. Platooning helps reduce fuel consumption. The ultimate aim of all these pilots is to evaluate how systems with different degrees of automation can contribute to higher productivity, a better working environment, and improved safety.
Five levels of automation
Experts feel rather on-road, automation will happen in confined areas first. There is a higher chance of commercial application in confined areas. What about commercial applications? They opine that they have the technology and that it is difficult to say when the actual rollout can happen.
“It will be automation supporting the driver. Apart from regulatory challenges, there are also commercial and technological challenges in case of automation,” says Cuklev. There are five different levels of automation — starting from driver assistance in Level 1 to full automation, which is Level 5. While driver assistance is using no feet, Level 2 is partial automation — no hands, Level 3 is conditional automation — no eyes, and Level 4 is high automation, which involves no attention, and full automation involves no driver. “Level 5 is something that can be applied in confined areas. We are working across all levels,” Cuklev says.
Zero accident vision
About 35% of people suffering serious injuries or fatalities in accidents involving heavy trucks are vulnerable road users. While 90% of accidents happen due to human factors, 30% due to environment and 10% due to vehicles.
According to the 2017 Volvo Trucks Safety Report, which focuses on vulnerable road users, the number of serious road accidents involving trucks is dropping, but the safety of vulnerable road users must be improved. Stressing on the importance of seat belt, Carl Johan Almqvist, Safety Director, Volvo Trucks, says that in order to cut accident rates, it is necessary to continue the development of a number of technical solutions that can help the truck driver avoid potentially hazardous situations. “Moreover, all road users need to become more aware of the risks that exist in the traffic environment and how we can best reduce them,” he adds.
The 2017 Volvo Trucks Safety Report is based on Volvo’s own accident investigations and on data from various national and European authorities. One of the report’s conclusions is that there is a greater need to focus on reducing risks for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders and motorcyclists.
Volvo Trucks Accident Research Team (ART) has investigated truck accidents since 1969. “These are facts that are not only important to our own product development, but also to everyone who works for a safer traffic environment,” says Peter Wells, Head of the Volvo Trucks Accident Research Team. In order to reduce the risk of accidents with other vehicles, Volvo’s trucks are equipped with various active safety systems. But if an accident does occur, it is a tried and trusted part of the safety equipment that is the most important life-saver — the seat belt, says Almqvist.
The safety belt would have saved 50% of unbelted truck occupants, according to the report. “The report reveals that far too many truck drivers don’t use their seat belts even though we know that half of the unbelted truck drivers who have died in road accidents would have survived, had they been wearing their seat belts,” he adds.
A visit to the Driving Simulation Centre at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, which is considered as one of the most advanced centres globally, showed how various researches are conducted to develop safety for vehicles.
Collision warning
With automation comes safety. Automatic emergency braking function is an EU-wide legal requirement for two- and three-axle heavy trucks since 2015. The aim is to reduce accidents in which a truck drives into the back of a vehicle in front of it, an accident scenario that accounts for about a fifth of all road accidents involving trucks.
Though there is no such legal requirement in India, this automatic emergency braking in India could save many lives, especially on the highways.
Volvo Trucks has developed a system, which was introduced in 2012, which focuses primarily on alerting the driver about the risk of a collision.
“In many cases, this is enough for the driver to quickly assess the situation and avoid an accident,” explains Almqvist. At the Volvo Trucks Experience Centre, this writer experienced Volvo’s emergency braking function.
The system monitors the vehicles in front with the help of camera and radar technology. If there is a risk of collision, the driver is alerted via a gradually escalating light and acoustic signals. If the system does not detect a response from the driver, the truck automatically starts braking gently.