By Robert Wilson, IPWEA FLEET Manager

The application of GPS, autonomous technology and robotics is seemingly boundless. Now, Volvo has started working with Chalmers University of Technology, Mälardalen University, Penn State University and waste recycling company Renova to develop a robot that automatically collects and empties waste bins.

The system is associated with a waste compactor truck. The collection process starts by the driver pressing a button which starts the robot and deploys a drone. The drone searches for bins and provides location details to the robot which collects the bin and loads it onto the trucks bin loader. The whole process can be monitored by the driver in the cab.

The system is called the ROAR project (Robot-based Autonomous Refuse handling) and is a great example of M2M (machine to machine) communication solving real world problems. With congested streets and manual handling a significant challenge for local government and waste contractors, ROAR could have the answer.

“We predict a future with more automation,” says Per-Lage Götvall, project manager for robot development in the Volvo Group. “This project is intended to stimulate our imagination, to test new concepts that may shape transport solutions of the future.”

The system incorporates GPS, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), cameras and odometry to control the system and includes a number of safety features to ensure the robots travels and loading sequence do not cause injury or damage.