Volvo Tests Autonomous Truck in Underground Mine
Volvo said it is testing its fully autonomous truck about 4,000 feet underground in a mine in Northern Sweden.
The truck is part of a project to improve mine safety and transport flow and will cover a distance of about 4.3 miles, according to the Gothenburg, Sweden-based manufacturer.
The self-driving truck being used in the mine is a specially equipped Volvo FMX. The truck uses various sensors and it continuously monitors its surroundings to avoid fixed and moving obstacles. The truck is part of a development project and is being tested in real-life operation for the first time, according to Volvo.
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“This is the world’s first fully self-driving truck to operate under such tough conditions. It is a true challenge to ensure that everything works meticulously more than 1,300 meters underground,” Torbjörn Holmström, Volvo Group's chief technology officer, said in a statement.
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Volvo Group released a video of its self-driving truck in operation in Kristineberg Mine. In the video Holmström shows how safe the truck is by standing in the middle of the road as the autonomous truck approaches.
“No matter what type of vehicle we develop, safety is always our primary concern and this also applies to self-driving vehicles. I was convinced the truck would stop but naturally I felt a knot in my stomach until the truck applied its brakes!” said Holmström.
