Volvo develops self-driving autonomous refuse vehicle

Volvo has developed a bespoke autonomous refuse collecting vehicle designed to minimise the need for the driver to climb in and out of the cab when collecting the bins for emptying into the body. Having driven the route to program the stopping points, on subsequent visits the driver can simply press a button on the side of the vehicle to initiate the vehicle moving to the next position – either forward or backwards. The appropriate gear is engaged and the park brake released automatically until the move is
May 17, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
609 Volvo has developed a bespoke autonomous refuse collecting vehicle designed to minimise the need for the driver to climb in and out of the cab when collecting the bins for emptying into the body.

Having driven the route to program the stopping points, on subsequent visits the driver can simply press a button on the side of the vehicle to initiate the vehicle moving to the next position – either forward or backwards. The appropriate gear is engaged and the park brake released automatically until the move is completed and then the process is reversed, leaving the driver outside the cab and able to ensure there is nothing in the vehicle’s path.

If the sensors detect something in the way, the vehicle will stop until the driver either moves the obstacle, prompts the vehicle to drive around the item and return to its original path, or takes manual control. A strip of blue LED indicates the vehicle is in autonomous mode and a green light indicates when the park brake is engaged.

During a demonstration, the vehicle travelled in the reverse direction as it was fitted with a rear loading body and this allowed the driver to remain towards the rear of the vehicle instead of having to go to the front during each move to check the path is clear. 
Location Based Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Changes needed to Italy's enforcement tendering?
    February 2, 2012
    Fixed penalty notices KRIA's co-founder and President Stefano Arrighetti discusses the events which led up to investigations into the fraudulent use of his company's T-RED red light enforcement system and his house arrest. Looking forward, he says, there needs to be fundamental reform of how Italy goes about the enforcement contract tendering process
    Read More
  • Smart cameras offer real-time alerts
    April 10, 2014
    Intelligent traffic cameras open up a host of possibilities for traffic planners and controllers alike. If traffic management centres (TMCs) around the world are to cope with the increasing demands of growing traffic flows while maintaining or improving transport safety and efficiency, then video monitoring will have to be supplemented by automated warnings of incidents or deviations. According to Patrik Anderson, business development director at Swedish camera manufacturer Axis Communications, it is no
    Read More
  • VMS can counter small screens’ big problems
    June 9, 2015
    Lacroix Trafic’s Steve Collins believes the improving trends in road safety could go into reverse unless authorities make full use of the latest LED technology to meet drivers’ information needs. Road authorities and vehicles manufacturers could and should be far more active in countering some of the transportation industry’s major problems, according to Steve Collins export sales director at Lacroix Trafic.
    Read More
  • Siemens delivers pedestrian countdown at traffic signals
    November 30, 2015
    First shown at Traffex 2015 in April, production of Siemens’ new Pedestrian Countdown at Traffic Signals (PCaTS) is now fully under way. PCaTS informs pedestrians how long they have to cross the road after the far-side green man signal has gone out. By providing a visible countdown of the time remaining before the appearance of the red man, PCaTS is intended to give pedestrians a better understanding of the time available to complete crossing, reducing anxiety once the green man is no longer displayed. B
    Read More

Highlighted Content