Scania eyes connected future

Scania has teamed with research project students at Sweden's Umea Institute of Design to shine a light on the future of trucking, and envisage a markedly different role from that upheld by truck drivers today.

In collaboration with the Interactive Institute Swedish ITC, Uppsala University and Lulea University of Technology, the project has resulted in a prototype simulator of an autonomous truck of the future, where the driver is digitally connected to his environment, and other motorists around them, to help stay abreast of changing road conditions and potential dangers.

Of course it's all hypothetical, but with many major manufacturers already well advanced in their development of autonomous vehicles, what was science fiction just a few years ago is now rapidly entering the realm of reality.

The project has seen students realise an autonomous truck with a focus on how its driver might interact with the vehicle and his or her surroundings. While the truck would display all the autonomous control necessary to get from A to B, guiding itself along the road and maintaining a safe travelling distance from the vehicle in front, this particular truck has some more impressive tricks up its sleeve.

The truck driver is alerted to potential dangers by the truck communicating with other nearby motorists – if the rearward-facing camera fitted other cars and trucks detects a sudden facial reaction of fear or concern, the event is flagged to everyone in the vicinity as a potential accident or issue worthy of caution.

The truck's blind spots are effectively eliminated by a 360-degree wraparound video screen inside the cab, which via a series of external cameras gives an unimpeded view of the truck's immediate surroundings, as if the trailer and the cab's bodywork weren't even there.

According to Parag Deshpande, Senior Lecturer at Umea Institute of Design, the project brought some clarity to a key issue for future truck design.

"The common theme that emerged in the project was the issue of automation – how much automation is favourable and what automation means for drivers," he said.

Marcel Penz, one of the contributing students, said the project threw up some interesting challenges.

"It was difficult to go from current needs and attempt to envision the future," he said.

"We were forced to create a future individual, who might now be in kindergarten, and compare that person's needs to today's drivers."

In carrying out their research the students accompanied drivers on the road to gain a better understanding of their work.

"Many of them were interested and pleased with this developing technology and future prospects," said Marcel.

Following interviews with the drivers, the students compared answers to identify needs. One conclusion was that drivers need to stay more digitally connected.

Even with the foreseen technological developments, Marcel says he's convinced of one thing – drivers will always wish to be personally involved.

It may be some time before we can kick back with a coffee and a good book as our trucks power on across the countryside – or, more likely, attend to some other work-related task – but the future of trucking looks set to be a very interesting place. Take a look at the clip below and see what you think...