Volvo works together with Aurora, a robotaxi and autonomous trucking company on a special VNL Autonomous Truck. Volvo manufactures the design and it was unveiled at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas. The truck is powered by Aurora Driver, which is a powerful level 4 autonomous driving system. To make this safe, it relies on high-resolution cameras, a LiDAR sensor, and imaging radars to detect objects that are as far as 400 meters.
Aurora ensures that its technology has already driven billions of virtual miles for training and the truck has "redundant steering, braking, communication, computation, power management, energy storage and vehicle motion management systems." President of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, Nils Jaeger explains that the truck is the "first of [the company's] standardized global autonomous technology platform." Jaeger added that it will enable Volvo "to introduce additional models in the future."
Self-Driving Collaborative Trucks
Volvo and Aurora Work Together on an Autonomous Truck
Trend Themes
1. Advanced-autonomous Trucking - The integration of Level 4 autonomous driving systems into trucks streamlines logistics and enhances safety through high-resolution sensors and advanced image processing.
2. Virtual Training for AI Driving Systems - Utilizing billions of virtual miles for training autonomous driving technology allows for rapid development and refinement of neural network algorithms in real-world conditions.
3. Redundant Safety Systems in Autonomous Vehicles - Implementing redundant systems for steering, braking, and power management ensures robust fail-safes, significantly improving the reliability and safety of autonomous trucks.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive Manufacturing - The development of standardized global autonomous technology platforms introduces new possibilities for mass production of self-driving vehicles.
2. Freight and Logistics - Revolutionizing freight transport with autonomous trucks can drastically reduce operational costs and improve delivery efficiency.
3. Artificial Intelligence and Robotics - The advancement and application of AI to autonomous driving systems exemplify the growing convergence of robotics and real-world transportation solutions.