“The refuse truck we are now testing continuously monitors its surroundings and immediately stops if an obstacle suddenly appears on the road,” says Carl Johan Almqvist, traffic and product safety director, Volvo Trucks.
The first time the truck is used in a new area, it is driven manually while the on-board system monitors and maps the route using sensors and GPS technology. The next time the truck enters the same area, it knows which route to follow and at which bins it has to stop.
At the first stop with the automated system activated, the driver climbs out of the cab, goes to the rear of the truck, brings out the wheelie-bin and empties it by operating the relevant controls.
The truck then automatically reverses to the next bin upon receiving the driver’s command. The driver walks the same route that the truck takes, giving the driver a full view of what’s happening in the direction of travel.
“By reversing the truck, the driver can constantly remain close to the compactor unit instead of having to repeatedly walk between the rear and the cab every time the truck is on the move,” explains Hans Zachrisson, Renova’s strategic development manager.
The test truck is designed to eliminate typical problems with reversing, including restricted visibility, thanks to sensors all around the vehicle.
Gear changes, steering and speed are optimised when the automated system is in use, which means fuel consumption and emissions can be reduced.
The project will continue until the end of this year and will be followed by an evaluation of safety and acceptance by drivers, other road users and local residents.