kscarbel2 Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 Reuters / September 12, 2018 Sweden’s Volvo, the world’s second-biggest truck maker, presented a new self-driving electric truck on Wednesday, which it said should help respond to the boom in ecommerce and a shortage of freight drivers. Volvo said the truck, which does not have a driver’s cab, was still under development and declined to say when it would be available commercially. It expects the vehicle to be deployed first in places like ports and large logistics centers. “We believe there will be a driver behind the steering wheel for the foreseeable future, but we will pretty soon see self-drive commercial vehicles in confined areas,” Lars Stenqvist, Volvo chief technology officer, told a conference in Berlin. Trucking is viewed by transport experts as a natural application for self-driving technology because of the relative predictability of highways compared with busy city streets. The cabless truck - which Volvo calls Vera and can pull loads weighing up to 32 tonnes - can be attached to any standard trailer, Michael Karlsson, head of autonomous solutions at Volvo Trucks, said after the vehicle was unveiled. “Vera means faith and we have faith in the future,” Karlsson said, adding the vehicle has a lower operating speed than a normal truck for safety reasons. Guests at the presentation were made to stand behind a barrier as the truck drove out unaided from a tent and were only allowed to approach when it came to a stop. The 1.4-million member International Brotherhood of Teamsters union is campaigning against new U.S. rules to speed the deployment of self-driving trucks, warning they could mean the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and hit road safety. However, trucking firms in many countries are finding it harder to attract and retain drivers amid tight labor markets. Karlsson said the truck would allow places like ports that are currently dependent on daytime working hours to run round-the-clock, optimizing the flows of goods and potentially cutting down on stockpiles and increasing productivity. He expects autonomous technology to increase the need for skilled drivers, while cutting down on the need for people to perform repetitive tasks. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405901 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405935 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenfive0 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 The Government doesn't give a crap about the little guys. They are fast tracking 5G to support this type of Bull Shi_ taking away the right of local municipalities to refuse big business (telecom) from putting mini cell towers everywhere and anywhere they chose. On poles on front lawns in front of houses feet away blasting the homeowners and businesses with microwave radiation. In Pennsylvania our Legislators and the Public Utility Commission have taken away the rights of homeowners to refuse the placement and use of Smart Meters on their homes. If a homeowner refuses the Electric Companies demands to place a Smart Meter on their home Electric Companies are shutting off power to customers. Its happening we are having our right stripped at a fast pace. Smart Meters emit microwave radio signals up to one thousand times a day to the Utility Company tracking your electric use. The Utility can track you comings and goings, when your home and when your not. They can shut off your power remotely with out cause with the push of a button. Meter readers are no longer need and perhaps hundreds are losing their jobs as a result. Meaning bigger profits for big business. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405941 Share on other sites More sharing options...
james j neiweem Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 I don't believe these will be very popular on the truck show circuit. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405942 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Who's gunno hook up the air lines and electric cord? Then fix it when it's screwed up and won't release the brakes and the lights don't work? Hmmmm. 1 Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405945 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtymilkman Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Someone is wearing their tinfoil hat......... Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405946 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 I really don’t get this big push for autonomous vehicles. I don’t see anybody clamoring for them so why waste the r&d efforts on something that isn’t wanted? Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405947 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 2 hours ago, HeavyGunner said: I really don’t get this big push for autonomous vehicles. I don’t see anybody clamoring for them so why waste the r&d efforts on something that isn’t wanted? And neither do I. Why are the US and EU pushing it so hard? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405949 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtymilkman Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 4 minutes ago, kscarbel2 said: And neither do I. Why are the US and EU pushing it so hard? Because nobody wants to work or go the extra mile. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405951 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 9 minutes ago, kscarbel2 said: And neither do I. Why are the US and EU pushing it so hard? To put more people out of work and to give hackers something else to mess with. 1 Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405952 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenfive0 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) 15 hours ago, kscarbel2 said: And neither do I. Why are the US and EU pushing it so hard? Tin foil hat or not. Its about power, control, politics and profit. There rich get richer, trample over and screw the little guy. Edited September 14, 2018 by tenfive0 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405953 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 Volvo Trucks Develops Autonomous Vehicle Called Vera Transport Topics / September 13, 2018 Volvo Trucks, the manufacturing arm of Volvo Group, underscored its commitment to offering autonomous commercial vehicles in the near future with the announcement recently that it has developed a self-driving, battery-electric, tractor-like unit it calls Vera. Vera is low and sleek, has no space for a driver, and hooks up to a trailer using a fifth wheel and a kingpin. Vera is intended to pull freight in ports, factory areas and large logistics centers where high volume loads are highly repetitive and cover short distances — but additional uses are possible. In the near future, Volvo Trucks’ transport solution will be further developed together with selected customers in prioritized applications, according to a company release. The Gothenburg, Sweden-based truck maker is the second largest in the world, and its other technologies first developed in Europe have migrated to its U.S. brands. For example, its I-Shift automated manual transmission that now has 90% penetration at Volvo Trucks North America, and the platooning technology VTNA demonstrated in June in North Carolina with FedEx Corp. “The full potential of the transport industry is yet to be seen. Everything suggests that the global need for transportation will continue to significantly increase in the coming decade,” said Volvo Trucks President Claes Nilsson in a statement. Growing world population and increasing urbanization are leading to significant challenges to solve environmental issues such as congestion, pollution and noise. Rising consumption, the fast growth of e-commerce and the widespread shortage of drivers put higher demands on efficient transport solutions, according to Volvo. “If we are to meet this demand in a sustainable and efficient way, we must find new solutions. In order to secure a smoothly functioning goods-flow system we also need to exploit existing infrastructure better than currently,” Nilsson said. “The transport system we are developing can be an important complement to today’s solutions and can help meet many of the challenges faced by society, transport companies and transport buyers.” The autonomous electric vehicles will be linked to a cloud service and a transport control center, and equipped with sophisticated systems for autonomous driving — but Volvo did not immediately supply any specific details. They are designed to locate their current position to within centimeters, monitor in detail and analyze what is happening with other road users, such as at intersections, and then respond with high accuracy. The transport control center will continuously monitor the progress of each Vera and monitor each vehicle’s position, the batteries’ charge, load content, service requirements and a number of other parameters. Similar to an industrial production process, Vera’s speed and progress are tailored to avoid unnecessary waiting and to increase delivery precision. In this way Volvo believes it will be possible to minimize waste in the form of buffer stocks of trucks, and increase availability. Vehicles that operate on the same route also will cooperate to create optimal flow. “Our system can be seen as an extension of the advanced logistics solutions that many industries already apply today. Since we use autonomous vehicles with no exhaust emissions and low noise, their operation can take place at any time of day or night,” said Mikael Karlsson, vice president of autonomous solutions at Volvo Trucks. “The solution utilizes existing road infrastructure and load carriers, making it easier to recoup costs and allowing for integration with existing operations.” . Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-405974 Share on other sites More sharing options...
james j neiweem Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 Yes its abut power and control. The elites can eliminate the useless eaters. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-406012 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmyb Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 Ok, now they are going to have to make the front of the trailer aerodynamic. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-406013 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 . Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54264-volvo-shows-off-self-driving-electric-truck-with-no-cab/#findComment-411167 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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