Volvo Autonomous Solutions says hauling more than one million tonnes of limestone autonomously for a customer in Norway is a remarkable accomplishment.
The Volvo unit says seven Volvo FH trucks equipped with its proprietary virtual driver technology have covered more than 220,000km since 2023 â equal to five laps around the equator â but the progress represented âjust the beginning of a journey toward a safer, more productive futureâ.
General manager at Bronnoy Kalkâs limestone operation in Velfjord, Raymond Langfjord said the milestone marked progress in both the use and capabilities of autonomous transport solutions. The trucks operated under challenging conditions, efficiently navigating a 5km route with steep inclination and tunnels between the mine and crusher. A wheel loader operator managed operations via a touch screen, coordinating truck loading and hauling.
A truck safety driver was first removed at Bronnoy Kalk in 2023.
Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, said a vision of the future had become a reality.
VAS calls its autonomous âecosystemâ at the limestone operation Autona/earth, which is delivered through a transport as a service (TaaS) model. It encompasses the trucks, infrastructure, operations, training, maintenance, repairs, and fleet management.
The TaaS model âenables Bronnoy Kalk to leverage the benefits of autonomous transport without having to solve all the challenges that come with incorporating a new technology into existing operationsâ, VAS says.
The divisionâs operations manager Mikael Nyth said autonomy was unlocking âunprecedented potential in safety and productivityâ.
âBeyond these clear advantages, our solutions deliver substantial efficiency gains in mining operations through flexible fleet management, allowing customers to optimise the number of trucks in operation based on demand,â he said.
âMoreover, advanced data collection from sensors offers new avenues for operational insights and continuous improvements.â
