Volvo Shows Prototype of Intelligent Construction Vehicle
October 27, 2021
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced a fully autonomous, battery-electric prototype vehicle inspired by a concept devised by LEGO Technic and Volvo engineers and designers. The LX03 is a real-world example of a self-learning concept wheel loader with the brains to make decisions, perform tasks, and interact with humans.
Volvo added this was the first time that a LEGO Technic model was turned into a real machine. While the prototype is not commercially available, Volvo said engineers expect that valuable insights from the LX03 will feed into applications for the future. The goal of the prototype is to help decarbonize the construction industry.
“We need to transform the construction industry with smart and more sustainable solutions that will have an impact on a global scale,” said Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE. “The unveiling of the LX03 prototype today represents just that – and is testament to the incredible expertise of our engineers and our united commitment towards positive change. Together with the LEGO Group, we are pushing the boundaries of both technology and imagination and the result is beyond anything the world has seen before.”
The LX03 was built by a team of engineers and programmers from Volvo CE sites in Eskilstuna, Sweden, and Konz, Germany, in collaboration with the design team in Gothenburg, Sweden. The LX03 is a five-ton wheel loader developed as a modular concept, with the capability of being made larger or smaller with just one or two changes to the manufacturing process. It also shares a driveline with the L25 Electric, making it a zero-emission, low-noise machine with a runtime of up to eight hours, depending on its application.
The prototype was designed to be a smart and safe worker, equipped with a brain that has the capacity to adapt to different scenarios, make decisions in real-time and most importantly collaborate with humans, Volvo said. The machine can be programmed by customers to complete heavy, repetitive or dangerous tasks, reducing the need for a human on site.
For more information on the concept machine, visit the Volvo CE website here.
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