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Unmanned trucks for container logistics

Some news from the industry of cargo transportation might sound fictional. Transportation companies that deal with delivering and allocating shipping containers actively involve automatic systems and mechanisms of artificial intelligence. A truck Volvo Vera is one of such innovations. It’s developed by Swedish engineers and represents a vehicle driven without a man. It is not just the idea to have a truck going by itself. There is even no sit for a driver in the truck.

Unmanned trucks

A known company developed the prototype of the vehicle in 2018. The ecologically friendly electric car has special equipment to fix a standard container-moving platform. The device has a lot of sensors and monitoring gadgets, as well as cameras and distant communication system that enables exchanging messages with a dispatcher. The batter of 300 kWatt/h supports long autonomous working regime. Among its main advantages are:

  • Continuous work round the clock;
  • Opportunity to complete standard tasks automatically and autonomously;
  • Exact following the safety rules and other regulations;
  • Easy adaptation to any exploiting conditions;
  • Chance to create a network with other automatic devices.

The bot even got its first task. An unmanned truck will transport shipping containers in the port of Goteborg. The vice-president of DFDS claimed that it was a serious step towards progress and environmental protection. Other companies, involved in container transportation by sea, also got interested in the project.

Automatic vehicles TuSimple have already worked in the post service of the USA, transferring freight between Phoenix and Dallas. By the way, the distance between two cities is over 1600 km. Another similar project also operates in Europe. A line of unmanned trucks moves between Germany and Italy. The Russian company KAMAZ does research in this field, as well. The project manager Hans Moser said that the prototype was ready. There is even a special allowance signed by the state that a testing route between Moscow and Tatarsan would be launched in 2022.