The CEO of Scania says the Swedish commercial vehicle and engine manufacturer’s first-ever self-driving heavy duty truck is a “significant step” towards smart transport systems of the future.
The Scania AXL concept is cab-less and can operate autonomously in specially controlled environments such as mines and large closed construction sites.
The vehicle is set to have its first demonstration to the public in the first week of October with the company describing it a milestone in the development of heavy self-driving vehicles.
The Scania AXL is based on the company’s modular system and was developed by a team of engineering and software talent from across Scania.
“With the Scania AXL concept truck, we are taking a significant step towards the smart transport systems of the future, where self-driving vehicles will play a natural part,” said Scania president and CEO Henrik Henriksson. “We continue to build and pilot concepts to demonstrate what we can do with the technology that is available today.”
Invitees to the demonstration will be shown how the concept vehicle can be steered and monitored by an intelligent control environment. Scania says that in mines, for example, its autonomous operation is guided by a logistics system that tells the vehicle how it should perform.
The Scania AXL is powered by combustion engine that powered by renewable biofuels and a new intelligent front module replaces the traditional cab.
It also features a “robust and powerful features and design behind Scania AXL match the tougher environments in mines and large construction sites”.
“We already have self-driving trucks in customer operations. However so far, they have been with room for a safety driver who can intervene if necessary. Scania AXL does not have a cab and that changes the game significantly,” added Claes Erixon, head of research and development at Scania. “The development in self-driving vehicles has made great strides in the past years. We still don’t have all the answers, but through concept vehicles like Scania AXL we break new ground and continue to learn at great speed.”