UD unveils automated truck

UD Trucks has revealed its first automated truck at a demonstration held before media and customers at its headquarters in Ageo, Tokyo, on December 13.

A prototype UD Quon 6x4 rigid truck fitted with an array of sensors and technology including GPS, radar, and Lidar completed a pre-programmed route that saw the vehicle precisely navigate a series of checkpoints laid out at UD's 'Experience Centre' test track, including reversing into and then exiting the tight confines of a simulated loading dock.

The vehicle is also fitted with an RTK system, used to enhance the precision of GPS technology, but this wasn't active during the Ageo demonstration.

The vehicle is classified as having Level 4 automation, meaning a driver is required behind the steering wheel to monitor the truck's progress but no action is required on their part other than starting it – the truck steers, accelerates, brakes and navigates solely using the automation technology.

Vehicle automation is commonly defined as having five levels, with Level 1 essentially relating to cruise control to Level 5 categorising fully autonomous vehicles that don't require a driver.

UD Trucks says it is concentrating its efforts on honing the heavy-duty model for operation in closed confines such as ports, factories, distribution centres and construction sites - highly controlled environments where vehicle movements are often repeated and where automation can reap significant benefits in terms of efficiency, safety and productivity.

However, the company says the truck unveiled in Tokyo also represents a stepping stone on the manufacturer's journey to fully autonomous vehicles.

Over 15 minutes the automated Quon, with conventional diesel engine and UD's ESCOT-VI 12-speed automated transmission, carefully negotiated a relatively confined slalom course before over 200 guests and select media representatives, including Trucksales, while its driver monitored the vehicle from behind the wheel.

In addition to the arsenal of cameras and sensors, the cab is also fitted with a tablet interface that allows the driver to interact with the complex software which, in conjunction with the vehicle's ECU (electronic control unit), allows the truck to carry out its duties virtually unaided.

As a part of the wider Volvo Group and its Common Architecture Shared Technology framework, UD Trucks has been able to select certain technologies already developed and integrate them with its heavy-duty Quon platform, while simultaneously carrying out extensive development of its own to bring this prototype to life.

The vehicle has been dubbed by UD as its 'Fujin' truck, the term relating to the Japanese god of wind, said to symbolise the power of movement. It's a key component of the company's 'Fujin and Raijin. Vision 2030' innovation roadmap, announced last April, which lays out the framework by which the company will seek to develop heavy vehicle automation, connectivity, and electro-mobility.

The 'Raijin' component relates to the Japanese god of thunder, symbolising the power of energy, and UD's development of electro-mobility transport solutions – be they fully electric, hybrid or fuel cell technologies. UD Trucks says it will make an announcement regarding its progress in electro-mobility in the very near future.

Also key to the development of UD's future transport solutions is the field of connectivity, with increasingly sophisticated telematics unlocking numerous efficiency, safety and productivity gains under the banner of what has been referred to as 'Smart Logistics'.

There are already 50,000 connected UD vehicles operating in Japan, with the company setting its sights on boosting that figure, both domestically in international markets, to 150,000 by 2025.

The company has also been heavily involved in platooning trials, collaborating with other Japanese brands to bring that particular technology, and its fuel-saving benefits, closer to fruition.

The announcements come after several years of major investment in the UD Trucks brand by Volvo Group, which purchased Nissan Diesel – as it was then known – in 2007, before changing the manufacturer's name to UD Trucks in 2010.

Since then the company has opened a glittering 10-storey building that serves as its corporate headquarters in Ageo, next to a sprawling production facility that employs around 7000 people.

More recently, the investment has produced the next-generation Quon – the heavy-duty model which has been warmly received in many markets around the world, including Australia.

Sales of the Quon have jumped significantly in Australia since the new model's release in 2017, climbing from 200 units last year to around 300 in 2018, while this year will see the brand surpass 1000 units in total, including sales of its Condor line.

UD Trucks Senior Vice President of Technology, Douglas Nakano, said the firm would conduct trials of the Fujin truck throughout 2019, before the vehicle begins operations with select clients in 2020, with commercialisation of these next-generation trucks continuing through to 2030.

Mr Nakano also said these new and rapidly evolving technologies would see transport and logistics become a key part of the connected and networked world of the future, helping to address environmental concerns, safety, the boom in eCommerce, urbanisation and the driver shortage currently experienced in many parts of the world.

"UD Trucks is proud to present the first demo of Level 4 automation for heavy-duty trucks," he said.

"Today's demo is a major step towards practical application of this technology by 2020. Our heavy-duty truck Quon, launched in 2017, contains a sophisticated vehicle control system, which is the base of our highly precise automation technology.

"Based on the Quon, UD trucks will continue to develop more advanced automation technology to address the needs of our customers everywhere and provide the truck the world needs today.

"In doing so, we want to drive open discussion together with our business partners. We hope this public demonstration will be the opportunity to start that discussion."