< PreviousV olvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has been conducting trials to remote control a high-lift wheel loader over a 5G network for timber lifting, a complex forestry application. The research project named Remote Timber is a collaboration between Volvo CE and telecom operator Telia, timber and paper manufacturer SCA, Mid University Sweden, Skogforsk and Biometria. The latest tests at SCA’s timber terminal in Torsboda, Sweden, have demonstrated that it is possible to teleoperate a Volvo L180 high-lift wheel loader, hundreds of kilometres away. And by using a closed 5G network, low latency has proven to be a major advantage, allowing operators to perform the sensitive process of picking, loading and organizing logs remotely. Teleoperated forestry is expected to deliver improved productivity by allowing one operator to work across multiple, and sometimes isolated, sites around the world. It is also expected to make it both safer, by removing humans from potentially hazardous environments, and more sustainable, through more effi cient logistics fl ows as the loading and unloading of timber can also be done during the night. Christian Spjutare, advanced engineering program manager at Volvo CE, says: “We expect tele-operation to open up far greater opportunities for operators than is currently available. Sometimes it can be diffi cult to hire people in timber terminals because of their remote locations. But tele-operation allows people to work from any location, no matter VOLVO CE DEMONSTRATES TELEOPERATED FORESTRY VIA 5G TELEOPERATION 10 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022the distance, making it a more desirable work setting, with the added advantage of more effi cient and sustainable work logistics.” Magnus Leonhardt, director, head of business development & innovation at Telia adds: “This partnership is a fi ne example of how remote control with the latest technology can contribute to more effi cient and sustainable construction solutions in the forestry industry. A secure and robust digital infrastructure is crucial for this. The unique technical qualities that 5G off ers are also entirely critical, in which extremely quick response times and high capacity enable immediate feedback between operator and machine, which is a prerequisite for being able to safely control machines remotely.” An important aim of this research project is to explore exactly what is required from an operator perspective in making tele-operation a user-friendly and effi cient experience. Because each load of timber can be so varied – from an unwieldly pile of heavy logs through to just a few short pieces of wood – it is vital that the lifting process is carried out with pinpoint accuracy and incredibly precise handling. As a result, a number of connected cameras and sensors are currently located at strategic points around the machine that transmit real- time data via the Telia 5G network back to the control station. The test will therefor both explore how to mature the technology and gather vital feedback from the operators on the optimum placement of those cameras for handling precision. By remote-controlling processes like timber lifting, which are currently too complex to be fully automated, teleoperation becomes an important enabler for automation, allowing for a more gradual integration of automated processes for customers. “This research project gives us an opportunity to test our teleoperation platform in a new application with high precision requirements and learn how the system needs to be designed to meet industry needs. Insights from partial manual and tele- operated management enables us to also take steps towards automation in more complex processes,” says Christian. Volvo CE has for the past few years been exploring the potential of teleoperation across a variety of segments from mining to urban construction. In 2019, Telia, Ericsson and Volvo CE launched Sweden’s fi rst 5G network for industrial use at Volvo CE’s facility in Eskilstuna, making Volvo CE one of the fi rst in the world to use 5G technology to test remote-controlled machines and autonomous solutions. TELEOPERATION 11 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022S ince launching its self-driving research programme in June 2021 Ford Motor Company has been working with businesses to understand how autonomous vehicles could benefi t their operations, particularly courier services and doorstep deliveries. Ford is also using its pilot programmes to identify new opportunities and models for autonomous vehicle operations and understand how existing processes and human interactions can work alongside automated vehicles. A commercial vehicle driver’s responsibilities sometimes extend beyond simply driving from one destination to another. In a delivery or logistics operation, for example, the driver may also be tasked with sorting and loading goods, manually handing packages over to recipients – or reloading them onto the van if delivery is not possible. However, in this research, the driver will play an entirely passive role, simply driving the vehicle. Pedestrian couriers who support the delivery van are equipped with a smartphone app that lets them hail the vehicle and remotely unlock the load door after it is safely parked at the roadside. Once inside, voice prompts and digital screens direct the courier to their locker, containing the parcels to be delivered. Understanding and designing how humans will interact with the vehicle will ensure that business processes are able to continue safely without a driver present. Delivery specialist Hermes was the fi rst customer to operate a Ford Transit research vehicle as part of its ‘last mile delivery’ pilot programme to make city deliveries more FORD TRANSIT DEMONSTRATES SELF- DRIVING CAPABILITIES FOR LAST MILE DELIVERIES AND PORT OPERATIONS Delivery specialist Hermes was the fi rst customer to operate a Ford Transit research vehicle to make city deliveries more effi cient and sustainable. AUTONOMY 12 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022effi cient and sustainable. A two-week research project with Hermes was built on Ford’s ‘last mile’ delivery trials in London in which a team of pedestrian couriers collects parcels from a delivery van and fulfi ls the last leg of the delivery by foot resulting in fast, sustainable and effi cient deliveries in cities. The research will enable Hermes and other businesses to begin designing how their teams could work alongside driverless vehicles; the company has developed an app that enables the pedestrian couriers to access the van to collect parcels, a role that the human driver would normally fulfi l. Lynsey Aston, head of product, innovation and onboarding, Hermes, said: “We’re excited to collaborate with Ford on this proof of concept trial, which is all about understanding the potential for autonomous vehicles and if they have a role in delivery in the longer- term future. We’re constantly innovating to incubate and then explore concepts like this, and we look forward to the initial fi ndings, which will no doubt be useful on an industry- wide level.” Ford’s latest collaboration with DP World London Gateway demonstrates how autonomous delivery could benefi t large worksites such as ports. DP World London Gateway, one of the UK’s fastest growing ports, is located 40 km east of central London and already embraces automated technology as an intrinsic part of its operations as a deep-sea container port. For the trial, Ford used a specially adapted Transit fi tted out to mimic the look of an actual self-driving vehicle with a driver concealed within a ‘Human Car Seat’. Employees at the company’s reception building loaded packages into secure lockers in the rear of the Transit. Then, at set delivery times, the Transit travelled to the main reception 3.5 km away so that colleagues there could retrieve them. In the normal way, staff currently retrieve packages from reception themselves. While time consuming, these trips do not warrant a full-time driver. Ernst Schulze, UK chief executive of DP World, commented: “Having what appeared to be a self-driving vehicle on site created a real buzz. Everyone wanted to use it. Popping in the car to pick up a package from elsewhere on site might not seem like it takes that long, but across multiple journeys over weeks, months and years, this can add up to a lot of time and money.” Every step of the process was monitored by researchers who also conducted interviews with those who took part, before, during and after the trial. They found that employees quickly became comfortable with using the specially equipped van. Some proactively trained colleagues to access their packages, while others were resourceful in overcoming diffi culties intentionally introduced by the researchers: such as the wrong parcels being stowed in the wrong lockers. Richard Balch, director, autonomous vehicles and mobility, Ford of Europe, said: “It was incredible to see how enthusiastically the team at DP World embraced working with the support of a self-driving vehicle. We are continuing to work very closely with our customers to learn how these vehicles can benefi t their businesses and it is exciting to see fi rst-hand the impact this can have across a diverse range of locations. What worked so well at DP World premises could equally be of benefi t at universities, airports and manufacturing facilities.” Ford has been testing self-driving technology in major cities across the U.S. in partnership with Argo AI. The company plans to invest around $7 billion (€6.02 billion) in autonomous vehicles during 10 years through to 2025 – $5 billion (€4.3 billion) of that from 2021 forward – as part of its mobility initiatives. Ford’s latest collaboration with DP World London Gateway demonstrates how autonomous delivery could benefi t large worksites such as ports. AUTONOMY 13 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022E arlier this year, Hitachi ABB Power Grids signed a memorandum of understanding with Yinlong Energy, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of electric buses, to help cities speed up their transition to emission-free electric bus transportation and cleaner city air. By combining their technology leadership and expertise, the two companies will off er customers an optimized e-mobility solution comprising Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ Grid-eMotion Fleet and Flash charging infrastructure for public transportation and commercial vehicles and Yinlong’s comprehensive portfolio of electric city buses. Initially, the two companies will focus their resources on helping cities in the Middle East achieve their urban e-mobility and emission-reduction ambitions, before extending their joint off ering to China and the rest of the world. Both the charging infrastructure and the buses meet the challenging climate and operating conditions of the region, where buses require large amounts of power for air conditioning and the charging infrastructure must withstand intense heat and even sandstorms. Among the fi rst of these partnerships is with UAE-based Emirates Global Motor Electric (EGME), part of Al Fahim Group and STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS DRIVE HITACHI’S LARGE-SCALE E-MOBILITY INITIATIVES IN THE MIDDLE EAST the regional distributor of Yinlong energy for the Middle East and Africa, to support the electric mobility initiatives in Abu Dhabi. With this collaboration, EGME expands its role for the Middle East and Africa as the regional distributor of Yinlong’s e-mobility coupled with smart charging solutions from Hitachi Energy. The electric bus initiative is aligned with Abu Dhabi Government’s strategy to strengthen the electric transportation sector and helping them to achieve their climate ambitions. It will pave the way for a quieter, emission-free, full-electric mobility solutions to run on the streets of Abu Dhabi and other cities all over the region. 14 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022 ELECTROMOBILITYAs part of the collaboration between these companies, Hitachi Energy will provide its Grid-eMotion smart charging solution specifi cally developed for public transport and commercial vehicles. The modular and scalable system includes a digital platform to support effi cient energy and fl eet management. The companies are also working together to create a technology hub in the region to showcase e-mobility solutions for the Middle East and Africa. Dr. Mostafa AlGuezeri, managing director of Hitachi Energy for the UAE, Gulf, Near East and Pakistan, said: “We are honoured to be part of this initiative as we are committed to advancing sustainable mobility. We strongly believe in the future of electricity as the backbone of the entire energy system to accelerate sustainable economic growth and to enhance circular economy.” “The move to green transportation is also complimentary to the larger goals set by the UAE to work towards a carbon-neutral future. With the UAE set to host COP28 in 2023, Hitachi Energy’s commitment to mitigate climate change and integrate more renewables into the grid is more and more evident. We are well positioned to tackle the transportation industry’s biggest challenge and support the diff erent pathways operators need to take to support the development of societies,” he added. Bilal AlRibi, general manager, Al Fahim Commercial vehicles, said: “We are pleased to have Hitachi Energy as our global technology partner who can support the infrastructure needs of our customers and partners. The Grid-eMotion will be a part of the unique and comprehensive solutions provided to the customers in the Middle East and Africa. This smart charging system will additionally allow us to maximize our operations. E-mobility is the future of transportation, and we feel privileged to be part of this journey towards a more sustainable future. This initiative also advances digital transformation in the UAE’s transportation segment. Yinlong’s battery system has successfully demonstrated its full readiness and performance for operations in extreme conditions after two years of extensive testing under harsh Middle Eastern conditions. We are ready for a full rollout in various sectors seeking net- zero objectives with electric mobility.” A ‘GRID-TO-PLUG’ SOLUTION FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND COMMERCIAL FLEETS Grid charging infrastructure is the key to keeping electric buses running for as long as possible each day, without having to take them off the road for recharging and deploy replacement buses and drivers, which increases operating costs signifi cantly. Grid-eMotion comprises two solutions - Fleet and Flash. Grid-eMotion Fleet is a grid-code compliant and space-saving grid-to-plug charging solution that can be installed in existing depots and scaled fl exibly 15 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022 ELECTROMOBILITYas the fl eet gets greener. Grid-eMotion Flash enables operators to fl ash-charge buses within seconds at passenger stops and fully recharge within minutes at the route terminus, without interrupting the bus schedule. Grid-eMotion Fleet uses DC technology and can connect to any type of power network, removing the complexities of integrating AC-DC chargers into a system. Compared to a conventional connection to the AC grid, this advanced solution brings a 60 percent reduction in space required for large-scale EV fl eet charging, whilst the depot cabling is reduced by 40 percent. The solution leverages Hitachi ABB Power Grids' smart energy management solution e-mesh EMS to manage and enhance the complete charging infrastructure, calculate bus energy consumption and devise, plan and deliver eff ective services for passengers. Digital analysis monitors the battery life data, route data, traffi c simulation and depot control to ensure that effi cient power use, energy storage and overnight charging is optimized. Grid-eMotion Flash allows for ultra-fast charging at intermediate stops optimizing operational cost and availability for fl eet operators. This charging system is viable for urban mass transit, making catenaries, large and heavy batteries, range and schedule limitations as well as greenhouse gas and noise emissions a thing of the past. Hitachi Energy has developed and optimized its fl ash-charging technology and onboard traction equipment for high-frequency and high-capacity bus routes. By selecting the appropriate technologies and ensuring optimal energy management, the system can save as much as 1,000 tons of CO2 on a bus line covering approximately 600,000 kilometers per year. In addition, the e-bus’ energy costs are 30 percent below those of a diesel bus. Grid-eMotion solutions are already operating or under development in the Middle East, Europe, Australia, China, India and Pakistan. Recently, Hitachi ABB Power Grids won an order to supply its Grid-eMotion Fleet smart-charging infrastructure solution to Västerås, one of Sweden’s largest cities, enabling it to sustainably expand its electric bus fl eet. Hitachi ABB Power Grids will provide a grid-to-plug, modular, scalable and compact system for charging fl eets of electric vehicles. The order includes the charging infrastructure connected to the grid and a digital control system to monitor fl eet charging. Additional off erings from Hitachi Energy for EV charging systems consist of emeshTM energy management and optimization solutions and Lumada APM, EAM and FSM solutions, to help transportation operators make informed decisions that maximize their uptime and improve effi ciency. 16 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022 ELECTROMOBILITYA BB hosted its ‘Future of E-Mobility’ event at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sweden Pavilion on 13 December 2021, involving senior representatives from Volvo Bus Corporation, Porsche and the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) who shared their experiences within the automotive and transport sectors, explored the progress made to date and the key steps required for the e-mobility sector to continue thriving. During the panel discussion, contributors agreed that legislation, infrastructure and incentivisation are all vital requirements to maintain the feasibility and appeal of sustainable transport solutions. ABB’s Terra 360 electric vehicle charger made its Middle East and Africa debut at the Sweden Pavilion. As the fastest all- in-one charger currently on the market, the Terra 360 can deliver up to 360 kW of power and a full charge in less than 15 minutes. With its ability to charge 4 vehicles simultaneously and compatibility with both passenger and commercial vehicles, ABB expects the Terra 360 to find widespread adoption among commercial fleets, retail areas and refuelling stations in the region. Wim Elshout, ABB E-mobility lead – overseas and emerging markets, said: “The Middle East and the UAE in particular has demonstrated strong appetite for investing in more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions. This remains true whether we look at how businesses are managing their logistics with greater efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, or how the general public wish to navigate their daily lives. At ABB, we are leading the way to a future of zero emission mobility. Our Terra 360 electric vehicle charger is just one example of the many ways in which we aim to power e-mobility forward.” Last month, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched a trial run of two Volvo 7900 electric buses. The smart buses are charged by a standing electric charger, supplied by ABB at La Mer South, while a night electric charger is also installed at the Al Quoz Bus Depot to enable charging while buses are out of service through the night. Manish Sahi, vice president of Volvo Bus Corporation Middle East and Africa said: ABB UNVEILS THE TERRA 360 EV CHARGER, EXPLORES FUTURE OF E-MOBILITY AT EXPO 2020 DUBAI “Volvo Buses is a leader in electromobility globally. We are excited about the possibilities electric buses will open for cities like Dubai. Volvo Electric buses will enhance travelling experience not only for passengers but also drivers and other road users, making cities more attractive for their inhabitants. As a company which offers complete e-mobility solutions, we tailor our approach, co-developing a strategy with city planners and fellow industry leaders such as ABB to accelerate the move to more environmentally-friendly transportation.” 17 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022 ELECTROMOBILITY18 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022 PRODUCT INNOVATION DAF NAMED INTERNATIONAL TRUCK OF THE YEAR 2022D AF’s new generation XF, XG, and XG+ trucks has been elected International Truck of the Year (ITOY) 2022 by a jury of 24 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists, representing 24 major trucking magazines from throughout Europe. Based on the ITOY rules, the annual award is presented to the truck introduced into the market in the previous 12 months, which has made the most signifi cant contribution to road transport effi ciency. This judgement relies on several critical criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint,' and total cost of ownership (TCO). The previous three winners of the award were MAN (2021), Mercedes-Benz (2020), and Ford Trucks (2019). With a winning score of 150 votes, the DAF long-haul heavy-duty truck range fought off the challenge posed by Iveco’s recently-launched T-Way construction series and Mercedes-Benz’s battery-electric eActros (second generation). DAF is the fi rst truck manufacturer to introduce a completely new generation of trucks that has been developed taking into account the new European regulations for truck mass and dimensions. This has resulted in a range of vehicles with signifi cantly improved aerodynamics, fuel effi ciency, active and passive safety, and comfort for the driver. The new generation DAF constitutes a completely new vehicle platform, one that is fully prepared for the alternative battery-electric and hydrogen drivelines of the future that are currently being developed at DAF. During recent extended test drives in Spain and central Europe, the ITOY jury members appreciated the excellent visibility provided by a large, curved windscreen, side windows with low beltlines and the kerb-view window. According to the jury, these features, along with the digital vision system that replaces the traditional rear mirrors and the new corner view camera, off er excellent all-around visibility, protecting vulnerable road users. The IToY journalists also praised the performance of the new highly effi cient powertrains, based on the Paccar MX-11 and MX-13 engines, coupled with Traxon automated gearbox, and the advanced features of predictive cruise control with extended Eco-roll functionalities. Gianenrico Griffi ni, chairman, ITOY, commented: “With the introduction of the new generation, DAF has delivered a high-tech heavy- duty truck range that sets a new benchmark in the truck industry. In addition, it is future- oriented, as it also represents a complete platform for new generations of alternative drivelines.” The award was handed over to Harry Wolters, 19 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJANUARY 2022 PRODUCT INNOVATIONNext >