UD: Smart Logistics key to societal transformation

Cleaner, smarter and connected commercial transport will be a key driver in helping nations achieve greater efficiency and sustainability, thanks to benefits still be unlocked in the digital age, says UD Trucks' Senior Vice President, UD Trucks Technology, Douglas Nakano.

Addressing media and major transport operators at UD Trucks headquarters recently in Tokyo – and where attendees witnessed UD's first live demonstration of a 'Level 4' autonomous truck – Mr Nakano said that technology would transform modern society in coming years, with next-generation logistics serving as a major piece of the puzzle.

"Global challenges are getting more critical each day," he said.

"Climate change, e-commerce, labour shortages, road accidents, just to mention a few. Logistics plays a very important role in becoming more sustainable, and there's a growing responsibility to reduce emissions, to make trucks safer, and increase productivity.

"Technology provides us with a great opportunity to unlock ourselves from the current restraints and solve these issues in a different way."

Mr Nakano said experts have forecast that the 1.3 million road accidents that occur on average each year could be reduced by as much as 90 per cent by the uptake of autonomous vehicle technology, saving vast numbers of lives and vast amounts of money.

"Instead of designing an even more robust truck to survive crashes, for instance, we have the opportunity to avoid the crash altogether, by using technology," he said.

"It's a great opportunity we have in front of us."

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Mr Nakano said the next generation of transport solutions would play a major role in achieving societal transformation, in line with government white papers such as Japan's 'Society 5.0', Singapore's 'Smart Nation', and our own 'Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation'.

"Efficient, reliable transport will enable more prosperity, growth and welfare, and it's a very important competitive advantage for any company around the world," said Mr Nakano.

"UD Trucks is proud to be an active partner of the logistics industry. We aim to drive innovation with our customers, to continue to create efficient, clean and safe transport solutions."

Volvo Group's Vice President, Group Vehicle Automation, Henrik Färnstrand, who was also in attendance at the UD event in Tokyo, said smart logistics would change the way truck manufacturers would approach the development of transport solutions.

"If we want to go where we have never been, we need to do things we have never done – this is the way that a colleague of mine back in Gothenburg explained what vehicle automation is all about," he said.

Furthermore, Mr Färnstrand said it would be commercial vehicles, not passenger cars, that would lead the way in terms of automation and connectivity.

"Now most experts believe that autonomous solutions will actually first be seen in the commercial vehicle industry, and initially this will for sure happen within confined areas," he said.

"Why is that? It is simple. Within confined areas we can manage the safety. To go to public roads will take some time, and the reason for that is also simple – it's because of the sheer complexity of the traffic situation that we see on public roads."

Mr Färnstrand said the development of these new transport solutions would require a high degree of collaboration beyond the R&D taking place within the truck manufacturers themselves.

"In order for us to learn more, it is crucial for us to pilot these solutions with our partners and also with society as a whole," he said.

"As you can see, we have built both competencies and capabilities over time, ones that will serve UD as a springboard going forward.

"So finally, the future, in our minds, is about automation."

The demonstration of UD's autonomous Quon 6x4 rigid truck in Tokyo shone a light on the company's progress in the roll-out of its 'Fujin and Raijin. Vision 2030' program – a program that seeks to develop the firm's products in the fields of automation, connectivity and electro-mobility.

'Fujin' is the Japanese Shinto god of wind, while 'Raijin' is the god of lightning, or energy.

"These are the three pillars of our innovation roadmap, and by utilising them we are developing solutions for smart logistics," said Mr Nakano.

"We are confident to bring significant contributions in realising the ambition of Japan's Society 5.0."

Japan's Society 5.0 represents the next phase of civilization. Society 1.0 was humanity's hunter-gatherer period, which was followed by agrarian society (Society 2.0), industrial society (Society 3.0) and the information society (Society 4.0). It attempts to define and guide resources towards realising a 'smart society' where myriad digital technologies unlock numerous efficiencies, thereby reducing emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels and creating a healthier, more sustainable society.

"UD Trucks' vision is to provide the products the world needs today and therefore we focus on solutions that will provide customers with the benefits of these technologies: electro-mobility, connectivity, and automation," said Mr Nakano.

"In order to do that, UD Trucks has been conducting demonstrations and field tests, development and customer trials, which started this year and which will go up to 2030.

"The capabilities will grow over time. For example, we will make trucks safer and significantly decrease road accidents, saving lives, saving money, and decreasing insurance costs. Then productivity. The truck will be easier to drive; we will assist the driver and take over in some situations. And efficiency – the truck will be able to optimise the route, optimise the supply chain, improve flexibility and reduce labour costs."

Mr Nakano said the roll-out of its smarter vehicles would be done slowly, with safety an utmost priority.

"With UD Trucks' vision to provide the trucks the world needs today in mind, we have decided to focus on level four automation in confined areas, as it is the perfect environment to start building our knowledge in a safe way," he said.

"That will allow us to gradually provide our customers with solutions and give knowledge step by step and refine our technology, before moving gradually to non-confined areas."

While the demonstration in Tokyo highlighted UD's work in truck automation, Mr Nakano said an announcement concerning the brand's progress in electrification would be made shortly.

"We are working very hard on 'Raijin' [the energy side of UD's innovation roadmap, or electro-mobility] as well, and soon we will have something to show you, very soon," he said.

"We are studying a lot of alternatives, many based on Volvo Group solutions, and it will be coming soon."

The Volvo Group has already made significant progress in terms of truck electrification, such as its FL Electric and FE Electric, and its recently teased VNR Electric model. Judging by the comments made in Tokyo by Volvo Group executives recently, it appears there is much, much more to come...