Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS) has hit a remarkable industry-first milestone with the removal of the safety driver in an active commercial mining operation at Brönnöy Kalk mine in Velfjord, Norway.
This autonomous transport solution developed for Brönnöy Kalk utilises seven fully autonomous Volvo FH trucks and VAS’ in-house developed virtual driver that operate in challenging conditions including steep inclination, extreme weather and long stretches of dark tunnels.
The trucks are used to transport limestone between the mine and crusher on a 5 km stretch that covers tunnels and the outdoor environment. The wheel loader operator uses a touch screen in the wheel loader to call the trucks for loading and to manage the operation.
Nils Jaeger, President, Volvo Autonomous Solutions remarked that the long-held vision of completely removing the safety driver in an active commercial transport operation in some of the world’s most challenging conditions is a major leap for the industry. He spoke of how this milestone underlines VAS’ leadership in autonomous driving and paves the way for a safer and more efficient future for the mining and quarrying industries.
By providing a complete solution that encompasses everything from software to site infrastructure to training to operations, VAS is able to reduce complexity for customers like Brönnöy Kalk and enable them to be a part of the autonomous future, said Sven-Erik Gustafsson, Head of Solutions, Mining and Quarry, VAS.
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