Volvo and Waabi: Advancing Autonomous Trucks in Logistics
Trucking is a critical backbone of the global economy, affecting countless industries. But, it's also an industry that, despite its importance, faces numerous substantial hurdles.
These range from hazardous working conditions to persistent driver shortages and even substantial environmental tolls. Each year, the trucking industry sees a regrettable loss of life due to accidents involving large vehicles.
Introducing AI to trucking
Innovative technology holds the potential to address these challenges. With the integration of fully-autonomous transport systems powered by AI, the sector could see transformations leading to enhanced safety, reliability and sustainability.
Such advances are at the heart of the collaboration between Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS) and Gen AI self-driving startup Waabi, which are joining forces to advance and implement autonomous trucks across the US.
The partnership focuses on integrating Waabi Driver, a cutting-edge virtual driver system, into Volvo's VNL Autonomous, a vehicle designed by the Swedish group for optimised, safe and efficient autonomous operations.
“This partnership is an exciting next step in developing transformative autonomous transport solutions,” explains Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at VAS.
“By combining Volvo’s leadership in automation and safety innovation with Waabi’s expertise in AI-driven autonomous driving technology, we are delivering solutions that tackle the industry’s capacity challenges today and paving the way for scalable, reliable operations.”
Pioneering with Waabi's Gen AI
Founded by Raquel Urtasum, former Chief Scientist at Uber ATG, Waabi is grounded in the philosophy of exploiting AI for rapid commercial progression in the autonomous vehicle sector. With more than two decades of experience in AI development, Raquel's approach aims to not only accelerate adoption but also ensure safe and adaptable operations of these intelligent systems on roads.
Waabi’s solution, Waabi Driver, integrates its unique AI-driven autonomy stack with necessary hardware like sensors and computers, furnishing a rounded solution for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and promoting widespread commercial usage. Waabi Driver is engineered to employ its learned capabilities in new, unseen environments or geographic regions, showcasing the required intelligence for secure and competent performance on major thoroughfares.
This intelligence is powered by Waabi World, an advanced, closed-loop simulation system built using Gen AI. The immersive environment is designed to test, assess and refine the AI 'brain,' enabling it to autonomously learn and evolve by navigating through both routine and critical driving scenarios.
Pushing forward with autonomous trucks
Waabi’s technology will be applied within the VNL Autonomous, VAS' premiere standardised autonomous technology platform equipped with six crucial redundancy systems crucial for safe operations. Initially collaborated upon with Aurora Innovation, Waabi now also brings its tech onboard.
“At Waabi, we believe that vertically integrating next-generation AI technology directly into an OEM’s vehicle production is the path forward to bring safe, robust autonomous vehicles to the road, at scale,” details Raquel.
“Volvo’s leadership in safety, commitment to excellence in engineering and investment in forward looking innovation makes them an ideal partner to realise the future of self-driving trucks everywhere."
Plans are in place for commercial pilots of the VNL Autonomous by early 2025, with a public road demonstration envisaged by the year’s end, showcasing the impact and potential of this collaborative venture.
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