Volvo Truck autonomous solutions Vera’s first assignment

Vera will form part of an integrated solution to transport goods from a logistics centre to a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden. The assignment is the result of a collaboration between Volvo Trucks and ferry and logistics company, DFDS.

The purpose of the collaboration, presented in June 2019, is to implement Vera in a real application, enabling a connected system and continuous flow of goods from a DFDS logistics centre to an APM Terminals port facility in Gothenburg, for distribution across the world.

In 2018, Volvo Trucks presented its first electric, connected and autonomous solution, designed for repetitive assignments in logistics centres, factories and ports. Vera is suited to short distances, transporting goods with high precision.

Mikael Karlsson, Vice President Autonomous Solutions, Volvo Trucks

“Now we have the opportunity to implement Vera in an ideal setting and further develop her potential for other similar operations,” says Mikael Karlsson, Vice President Autonomous Solutions at Volvo Trucks.

Several Vera vehicles will form part of the connected system and will be monitored from a control tower. The aim is to establish a seamless flow of goods responsive to demands for greater efficiency and flexibility. Several Vera vehicles are intended to operate on pre-defined public roads in an industrial area.

The autonomous transport solution will be further developed in terms of technology, operations management and infrastructure adaptations, before it can be fully operational. Moreover, necessary safety precautions will be taken to meet societal requirements.

As Volvo Trucks gains more experience, Vera will have the potential to be used in similar applications as a complement to transport solutions.

“Autonomous transports with low noise levels and zero exhaust emissions have an important role to play in the future of logistics and will benefit both business and society. We see this collaboration as an important start and want to drive progress in this area. Vera may have a speed limit, but we don’t,” adds Mikael Karlsson.

Facts

The assignment is to move containers from the DFDS logistics centre in Gothenburg to an APM terminals container terminal according to needed capacity.
The autonomous system is monitored by an operator in a control tower who is also responsible for the transport.
The solution is suited for repetitive flows with a maximum speed of 40 km/h.
Infrastructure adaptations are part of the scope in the implementation of the total transport system, including automated gates at the terminals.
Volvo Trucks and DFDS are main partners but several actors are involved in implementing Vera’s first assignment.