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Scania ramps up autonomous platooning
Swedish truck maker to trial platooning operation for Port of SingaporeThe prospect of autonomous truck platooning is one step closer to reality, with Scania announcing it will play a major role in trialling platooning operations between two port terminals in the international freight hub of Singapore.
The project, which will see Scania partner with Singapore's Ministry of Transport, the Port of Singapore Authority and Toyota, will see two platoons of four trucks haul cargo between the two terminals. While the lead truck will be driven by a human driver, the following three trucks will be driven autonomously.
The aim is to maximise and streamline the efficiency of the operation, as well as to fully automate the docking and undocking of cargo.
"Autonomous vehicles and platooning are cornerstones of future sustainable transport systems," says Claes Erixon, Head of Research and Development at Scania.
"This is a great opportunity to demonstrate our leadership and technology in this new exciting area. We are pioneering in this field, which has the potential not only to save lives in traffic, but also to significantly decrease the environmental impact of transport."
The multi-year project is just one of many autonomous vehicle ventures in the Asian nation, with Singapore having already tested autonomous cars, taxis, utility vehicle and buses. As in other fields of transport, the prospect of truck platooning promises many benefits.
"Trucking as we know it today is a highly labour-intensive industry," says Mr Pang Kin Keong, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Chairman of the Committee on Autonomous Road Transport in Singapore (CARTS).
"We face a shortage of truck drivers. In this regard, truck platooning technology presents us with an opportunity to boost productivity in both the port sector and the trucking industry. It will also open up opportunities for truck drivers to take on higher-skilled roles as fleet operators and managers."
Presently 12 per cent of the nation's total land is developed for road and land transport infrastructure. The country is therefore at the forefront of new mobility concepts to increase productivity and road safety, while optimising road capacity.
"Scania is well advanced in cutting-edge autonomous technology as well as in platooning," says Mark Cameron, Country Manager, Scania Singapore.
"Singapore has launched several autonomous vehicle initiatives and together we will now demonstrate how we can substantially enhance productivity in the Port of Singapore."
The port trials will take place in two phases. In the first, Scania and Toyota will hone their truck platooning technology and adapt it to local conditions. This work will be carried out in the companies' respective research facilities in Sweden in Japan, while the second phase, comprising local trials and development, will take place in Singapore.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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