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Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.) has introduced its new Volvo VNL Autonomous truck at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas. This innovative truck, built with advanced autonomous driving technology from Aurora Innovation, aims to revolutionize freight transport in the United States by enhancing transportation capacity and efficiency.
Key Highlights:
- Purpose-Designed for Autonomy: The Volvo VNL Autonomous combines Volvo’s expertise in commercial vehicles with Aurora’s cutting-edge autonomous driving technology.
- Robust Redundancy: Features redundant systems for steering, braking, communication, computation, power management, energy storage, and vehicle motion management.
- Integration with Aurora Driver: The truck incorporates the powerful Aurora Driver, an SAE L4 autonomous driving system equipped with AI software, dual computers, lidar, cameras, radar, and sensors.
- Manufactured at Scale: Assembled at Volvo’s New River Valley plant, ensuring high-volume production and stringent quality standards.
- Impact on Transportation: Aims to address driver shortages and enhance freight capacity, contributing to societal growth and improved work-life balance for drivers.
Guided by Safety with Robust Redundancy
Volvo Autonomous Solutions emphasizes safety in every aspect of the Volvo VNL Autonomous. The truck features redundant systems for critical components, ensuring high levels of safety and reliability. Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at V.A.S., highlights, “Our platform engineering approach prioritizes safety by incorporating high-assurance redundancy systems designed to mitigate potential emergency situations.”
Cutting-edge Technology and Purpose-built Integration
The collaboration between Volvo and Aurora has resulted in a truck that seamlessly integrates Volvo’s robust vehicle design with Aurora’s sophisticated autonomous driving system. The Aurora Driver’s AI software, dual computers, proprietary lidar, high-resolution cameras, imaging radar, and sensors enable the Volvo VNL Autonomous to navigate complex environments safely.
Sterling Anderson, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Aurora, states, “Powered by the Aurora Driver, the new Volvo VNL Autonomous is the realization of our shared vision. This truck combines Aurora’s industry-leading self-driving technology with Volvo’s best-in-class truck, designed specifically for autonomy.”
Manufactured for Commercial Scale
The Volvo VNL Autonomous will be assembled at Volvo’s New River Valley (NRV) plant in Dublin, Virginia. The NRV plant’s decades of high-volume production experience and stringent quality processes ensure that the Volvo VNL Autonomous can meet industry demand efficiently.
Looking Ahead: Customer Adoption and Societal Impact
The Volvo VNL Autonomous is designed to offer a fully integrated autonomous solution for the Hub-to-Hub segment, reducing complexity for customers and ensuring efficiency, safety, and reliability. Sasko Cuklev, Head of On-Road Solutions at V.A.S., notes, “Our approach reduces complexity for our customers while allowing them to experience the benefits of an autonomous solution with peace of mind.”
By addressing driver shortages and enhancing freight capacity, the Volvo VNL Autonomous contributes to societal growth and improved work-life balance for drivers. This innovative truck marks a significant milestone in the implementation of autonomous transport and its benefits to society.
About Volvo Autonomous Solutions
Volvo Autonomous Solutions provides a comprehensive Transport as a Service (TaaS) solution, including a purpose-built autonomous vehicle, virtual driver, infrastructure, operations and uptime support, and a cloud-based logistics management system. These solutions are tailored to meet each customer’s needs, ensuring safer, more productive, and sustainable operations.
About Aurora
Aurora (Nasdaq: AUR) delivers self-driving technology to make transportation safer, more accessible, and efficient. The Aurora Driver supports various vehicle types and underpins Aurora’s driver-as-a-service products for trucking and ride-hailing. Aurora collaborates with industry leaders, including Volvo Trucks, Continental, FedEx, and Uber, to advance autonomous transport solutions. Learn more at aurora.tech.
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