Truck & Off-Highway Engineering – June 2019

VOLVO CE

Volvo CE trials 5G connectivity

entirely using 5G. In principle, we can then test 5G with six to

eight autonomous haulers transporting gravel across the site.

Can other sectors benefit from 5G automation?

Absolutely, it’s not just mining [and construction]. The for-

estry industry could certainly benefit, as an industry where

you have lots of incoming trucks loading and unloading on to

trains, often at night...And again, for really dangerous jobs in

the steel industry or the energy sector, where physically mov-

ing material can risk explosion or toxic gas emissions, then

removing people is clearly a good solution.

For construction, is boosting productivity a key driver?

Safety is obviously a big factor, but clearly 5G will have a direct

positive impact on productivity. Today’s

remote-control technology provides a

delay which makes it very difficult to

control a machine with any speed or pre-

cision, but 5G will be as good as real

time. In addition, the picture quality is

much better, video footage is in a better

resolution and 5G provides a more reli-

able connection—all of which makes it

easier for the operator in the simulator.

What challenges have you experienced

so far?

We did find it hard to initially get the

hardware. We are so early in the trial that

we have trouble finding modems to com-

municate with the antenna. Telia has been

useful in providing the right equipment

for us to use. We are so early in trialing

this technology that this obviously has its

advantages and disadvantages.

When will we see 5G rolled out to the

wider industry?

It depends on different use cases in

construction—how do they work, do

they meet the demands of the industry,

is it feasible for customers? 5G will

come first to those that benefit the

most, but it will take time to build the

network and required infrastructure. For

us in the construction industry, and for

static operations like a quarry or mine, it

really can come quite fast. The timing is

good—our customers need connectivity

and they want more data. And we’re the

ones providing the research to see just

how possible it is.

Ryan Gehm

For years Volvo Construction Equipment has operated
wheel loaders via remote control in underground mining
operations, first for very dedicated tasks and more recently
increasing the flexibility and scope of their operation. A re-
cent test program with mining company Boliden examined
both standard WiFi and a 4G+ communication system built
with the help of Ericsson, on a machine located more than
400 m (1,300 ft) below ground. Though the program was
deemed a great success by both companies and considered
an important step on the pathway to truly autonomous ma-
chines, they agreed that a more robust communication sys-
tem was necessary. Hello 5G.
Volvo CE is now trialing 5G mobile connectivity in a two-
year partner program by Telia and Ericsson, this time employ-
ing a remote-controlled wheel loader,
the L180H, in a 25-hectare construction-
site setting in Eskilstuna, Sweden. Calle
Skillsäter, Volvo CE’s technical specialist
for connected machines, offers some
insights on the technology, this latest
trial program and where it can go from
here, in this edited exchange provided
by the company.

What does Volvo CE hope to achieve
with this trial?
A faster, more reliable mobile network
will mean we’re at the forefront of driving
a much faster market implementation of
technologies like automation. Something
that had seemed impossible a few years
ago is now a very real opportunity today.
What is really exciting is that at this
very early stage, we are in a unique posi-
tion to iron out any problems and play a
key role in actually influencing how 5G
will work for industrial purposes when it
is rolled out more widely. The goal for us
at Volvo CE is to make this system so
mature and so successful that we can
test it with our customers—to see how
this technology can function on a real
construction site. Hopefully that will be
something we can achieve by the end of
the trial.

Will you be testing with other Volvo
machines?
The aim is that after the initial testing
phase with the wheel loader, we will then
be able to test it with the HX2 hauler
concept machine to see whether it is
possible to have a work cycle operated

“We are in a unique

position to iron out

any problems and

play a key role in

influencing how

5G will work for

industrial purposes.”

Calle Skillsäter, Volvo CE’s technical

specialist for connected machines

Q&A

72 June 2019 TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING