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Scania’s AXL Driverless Truck Is Cabless, Extremely Versatile

Swedish manufacturer Scania AB has an idea for a driverless truck that is both versatile and extremely efficient, maximizing space by doing away not just with the steering wheel but the entire cab.
Scania's AXL driverless truck is only a concept right now 11 photos
Photo: Scania
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This “headless” truck is called AXL and, for the time being, it’s just a concept to prove what Scania could do with existing technology, as per Scania itself. You can see it in action in the 2 videos below, and in the attached gallery.

The AXL truck is efficient, Scania says, because it doesn’t need a human driver, it doesn’t have any need for a cab, so the space is used to haul bigger loads. It’s built on a modular construction, which means it could take different forms depending on the job it’s needed for – at least in theory.

AXL is ideal for mines and closed construction sites, which can be well controlled and which have less unpredictability as compared to public roads. An entire fleet could be programmed and then controlled from a control booth, by human operators, and the AXLs would go about their job without incident. Should Scania ever consider introducing the AXL, they would probably pilot it on construction and mine sites.

“With the Scania AXL concept truck, we are taking a significant step towards the smart transport systems of the future, where self-driving vehicles will play a natural part,” Scania President and CEO Henrik Henriksson says in a statement. “We continue to build and pilot concepts to demonstrate what we can do with the technology that is available today.”

Like most heavy duty trucks, the AXL would also run on diesel. However, it would use renewable biofuel to cut down emissions.

“We already have self-driving trucks in customer operations. However so far, they have been with room for a safety driver who can intervene if necessary. Scania AXL does not have a cab and that changes the game significantly,” Claes Erixon, Head of Research and Development at Scania, says. “The development in self-driving vehicles has made great strides in the past years. We still don't have all the answers, but through concept vehicles like Scania AXL we break new ground and continue to learn at great speed.”

For the time being, there are no plans to take the AXL into production. However, a first demo of the driverless, cabless truck will take place on October 2, at TRATON GROUP’s Innovation Day, at Scania’s demo center in Södertälje.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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