A fully autonomous Volvo FMX truck is the first in the world to undergo testing deep underground in the Kristineberg Mine located in Northern Sweden.
According to its manufacturer, the Volvo Group, the self-driving truck is part of a development project aimed at improving the transport flow and safety in the Kristineberg mine.
It will travel a distance of 7km, reaching 1320m underground in the narrow mine tunnels.
“This is the world’s first fully self-driving truck to operate under such harsh conditions. It is a true challenge to ensure that everything works meticulously more than 1300m underground,” says Volvo Group chief technology officer Torbjörn Holmström.
Volvo Group is releasing a film showing the opportunities that open up with autonomous trucks, recording this in the mine located 100km from Arvidsjaur in northern Sweden.
Holmström takes part in the movie, wanting to show how safe the truck is. He didn’t hesitate to stand in the middle of the mine gallery as the vehicle approached him.
“No matter what type of vehicle we develop, safety is always our primary concern, and this also applies to self-driving vehicles. I knew the truck would stop, but I did feel a knot in my stomach until the vehicle applied its brakes,” says Holmström.
The entirely self-driving truck that takes the lead role in the film is a specially equipped Volvo FMX. Using various sensors, it continuously monitors its surroundings and avoids both fixed and moving obstacles.
At the same time, an onboard transport system gathers data to optimise and coordinate the route and fuel consumption.
