Autonomous Solutions
Autonomous Solutions
Safety has been the guiding principle for Volvo for 100 years and is the backbone of everything we do at Volvo Autonomous Solutions.
Safety to us goes beyond simply ensuring hardware and software meet our rigorous safety standards, it also entails creating complete transport solutions with safety built into every step.
When removing the human driver, safeguards need to be implemented for safe autonomous driving. We design our autonomous trucks with integrated redundancy. If one system fails, a backup system takes over to keep operations running safely.
At Volvo, safety is at the heart of everything we do. With a legacy nearly a century old, we continue to be committed to challenging the status quo and protecting lives. When traffic accidents were claiming countless lives, Volvo revolutionized safety by inventing the three-point safety belt and freely sharing the patent with the industry. Since 1959, this innovation has been credited with saving over one million lives.
We also created the safest cab in Volvo Trucks history with the Volvo FH. During its development, the Volvo FH underwent thousands of simulated collision tests and around one hundred real-world crash tests, continuing to protect drivers worldwide. Now, we’re focused on autonomous vehicle safety as a crucial next step in our ongoing commitment to safety and innovation.
Safety is core to our autonomous transport solutions. Our holistic approach to safety is integrated into our development processes, allowing us to design and build systems capable of performing safely in the intended environment. By collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, including first responders and law enforcement, we help drive industry standards to enhance safety across the board. Engaging with law enforcement allows us to provide them with information on how to interact with autonomous vehicles. We are also committed to adopting industry best practices where possible, such as those outlined by SAE International, and we actively participating in CVSA workshops, which have been pivotal in establishing autonomous vehicle industry standards, such as the Enhanced Vehicle Inspection Procedure. Our commitment to safety is also reflected in testing and verification protocols, which uphold Volvo’s safety standards through both simulations and real-world testing of trucks, vehicles, infrastructure, connectivity, and cloud systems. Each mile traveled—whether virtual or physical—provides valuable data that informs continuous improvements. As the industry evolves, Volvo will continue working together with authorities to define safety standards that are both practical and rigorous so that we can make autonomous transport a reality for our customers.
The autonomous freight industry is in its early stages as a new and complementary transport mode, but it’s gaining momentum, and the technology is evolving rapidly. The Volvo VNL Autonomous features robust redundancy for critical systems, such as braking, steering, and communication, we can operate in a safe manner even if a primary system fails.
