Refuse collection is poised to become more futuristic that it鈥檚 ever been 鈥� with the creation of self-driving bin trucks. If the terms 鈥減utting the bins out鈥� and 鈥渇uturistic鈥� don鈥檛 necessarily fit snugly beside one another in your word bank, you鈥檇 be excused.
But Volvo鈥檚 latest partnership with Swedish waste and recycling specialists Renova could be the key to improved working conditions for refuse collectors, lowering the environmental impact and better traffic safety in built-up areas.
The partnership鈥檚 unique offering is the rather fetching 鈥渁utonomous refuse truck鈥� which reverses itself down residential streets at a safe pace, leaving the driver to walk ahead and collect bin bags without having to constantly climb in and out of the cab.
Sensors continually monitor the truck鈥檚 proximity to other vehicles, and the truck stops as soon as an object obstructs its path.
The route is pre-programmed to ensure the truck can negotiate its way down the street from one wheelie bin to the next, freeing up the staff to deal with the waste.
Volvo鈥檚 chief technology officer Lars Stenqvist said: 鈥淥ne important benefit of the new technology is a reduction in the risk of occupational injuries, such as wear in knee joints 鈥� otherwise a common ailment among staff working with refuse collection.鈥�
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