While the automobile industry has set out on commercializing autonomous vehicles and making them common on roads, there is still a lot of time before people can start trusting them. Hence, it is most likely that autonomous cars will probably run in closed spaces, such as factories and corporate campuses. Keeping this in check, Volvo has revealed their new electric vehicle that will carry cargo around these enclosed areas all on its own.
Image Credit: Volvo
The cabin-less Volvo Vera will help decrease the load that gathers around ports, factories and logistic centers. Shaped like the typical Volvo from the front and a long platform for carrying goods at the back, the Vera looks more like an electric sled than a car. According to Volvo’s Vice President Autonomous Solutions, “We can see a boom in e-commerce, as well as overall global consumption and it shows no signs of slowing down. The industry needs to find new ways to meet the increased demand on transports in an efficient and sustainable way. Therefore, new solutions need to be developed to complement what’s available today.”
RELATED: Swedish company, Einride unveiled its all electric autonomous logging truck
Image Credit: Volvo
Despite being new, the Volvo Vera is powered by the same drivetrain and battery packs as Volvo’s electric trucks. Nevertheless, all other technological aspects are new. The interconnected fleets of Veras would report to a control center over the cloud that would optimize traffic flow to allow a smooth operation and decrease waiting times. This will allow Veras to carry out quick, repetitive, short-distance trips more efficiently. Furthermore, the central mode will also record and regulate battery levels, their locations, load content and immediate services required.
SEE ALSO: Meet Gita, an autonomous cargo robot that will follow you home with all your stuff in it
Image Credit: Volvo
Although Volvo hasn’t released much information about the new technology, they did claim that they would collaborate with a specific demographic of customers to build the concept, discover its applications and move it towards working phase.
Image Credit: Volvo
CONTINUE READING: This giant orb is actually a drone that can pick up and drop off objects autonomously
h/t: New Atlas