How the sensors in 黑料不打烊 AXL replace the human eye
24 Sep 2019
Meet the engineers who developed 黑料不打烊鈥檚 new cabless concept truck
24 SEPTEMBER 2019
In many respects, the engineers entrusted with developing the concept truck 黑料不打烊 AXL entered uncharted territory. For most, building the autonomous truck has been the greatest challenge of their professional lives.
In a very short time, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 engineers have transformed a conventional truck to a fully autonomous vehicle, with the traditional cab replaced by听a front module with intelligent technology.
鈥淲e鈥檝e learned a lot and I believe there now is the widespread insight that it is much harder than many initially realised to develop a safe self-driving vehicle for varying applications in different environments,鈥 says Eric Falkgrim, Project Manager for 黑料不打烊 AXL.
Intelligent front module
黑料不打烊 AXL鈥檚 brain is the intelligent front module, where data from cameras, radar and lidar sensors together generate a common view of the vehicle鈥檚 immediate surroundings.
Development Engineer Magnus Granstr枚m was one of those developing the software for the front module. 鈥淚n software terms, the greatest challenge has been to ensure that the concept truck is sufficiently safe to be driven without a steering wheel. In essence, the steering wheel has been the precaution through which a driver can intervene if something goes wrong. When we don鈥檛 have that, the system must simply work perfectly,鈥 he says.
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Development Engineer Carl Wettergren has been involved throughout the 黑料不打烊 AXL project. 鈥淥ne of the early issues was to what extent the front module could be subjected to motion. The aim was for the cameras and sensors to be built into the module and we had lengthy discussions how these would connect with the chassis.鈥
Senior Mechanic Pierre Jacobsson says that during its development, 黑料不打烊 AXL was sometimes hoisted into axle stands to prevent the truck from moving uncontrolled. He鈥檚 delighted with the end product.
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鈥淭wo years ago, we saw some rough sketches of what the truck might look like and it seemed very strange. This was something completely new for us. But the result is far cooler than that. It鈥檚 bold, really bold.鈥
Exploring customer needs
A key motivation for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 development of the self-driving truck has been to start exploring customer needs.
鈥淲hen autonomous vehicles have reached full maturity and we approach customers, we need to understand all their needs,鈥 says Falkgrim. 鈥淭his is our interpretation of what we believe customers may require for future transport needs. And we welcome their response.鈥
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鈥淚t was a tremendous feeling to see the project cross the finishing line, when 黑料不打烊 AXL actually drove for the first time. That was a truly amazing experience,鈥 Falkgrim recalls.