La industria automotriz ha experimentado muchas transformaciones novedosas en las últimas décadas. Los problemas relacionados con la seguridad y la sostenibilidad son los principales impulsores de estos cambios. Se puede argumentar que no ha habido ningún cambio radical en las proporciones por las que se conoce a la industria automotriz. Sin embargo, los expertos anticipan un futuro completamente nuevo para la industria. Y con innovaciones atrevidas como el Volvo Vera, el futuro no podría estar más cerca.
¿Qué tiene de especial el Volvo Vera?
Quizás, la característica más intrigante del Volvo Vera es su capacidad para llevarnos al futuro. El automóvil es radicalmente diferente de todo lo que se puede ver hoy en día y, en esencia, se parece a todos esos dispositivos elegantes de películas de ciencia ficción. Vera está optimizado para reemplazar los camiones pesados que se utilizan en centros y puertos mega logísticos. El concepto sin conductor significa que las empresas de logística pueden funcionar de manera más eficiente. Y el hecho de que dependa de la electricidad significa que la mayor parte del mantenimiento que tendrá que hacer solo implicaría la carga. Además, el impacto ambiental potencial con el uso generalizado de camiones eléctricos sería enorme. Se reducirá el ruido y se reducirán las emisiones de carbono.
¿Qué significa Vera para los camioneros?
Las discusiones en torno a los automóviles sin conductor siempre crearían signos de interrogación sobre el papel futuro de los conductores. Pero esto no debería impedirnos adoptar la tecnología. Los beneficios aquí superan claramente los riesgos potenciales. Según el vicepresidente de soluciones autónomas de Volvo Trucks, crea la necesidad de conductores capacitados. Se anticipa que la evolución de la industria del transporte sería similar a lo que sucedió con la industria productiva. El desarrollo de sistemas automatizados significó que las fábricas comenzaron a favorecer a los trabajadores calificados a expensas de los no calificados. Pero la prosperidad que ha traído a la industria no se puede discutir.
¿Hay preocupaciones de seguridad?
Volvo Trucks hace de la seguridad de todas sus innovaciones una prioridad. Hasta la fecha, el Volvo Vera aún no se ha lanzado oficialmente. Pero los prototipos indican características como una velocidad de funcionamiento más baja y varias cámaras, radares y sensores. Estas características garantizarían que el Volvo Vera sea muy seguro, especialmente en las etapas de prueba. Después de extensas pruebas en el sitio, la compañía planea aumentar la velocidad de operación y optimizar aún más las características de seguridad.
¿Es esta una tecnología única en su tipo?
El Volvo Vera es una excelente combinación de lo nuevo y lo viejo. El vehículo y la estructura circundante incorporan algunas tecnologías novedosas. Se han realizado pruebas exhaustivas para garantizar que la máquina funcione a la perfección. También hay elementos de los Volvo Trucks tradicionales con los que ya estamos familiarizados. La transmisión eléctrica del Volvo Vera es un ejemplo de esta tecnología básica adaptada.
¿Cuándo es la fecha de lanzamiento?
Se desconoce la fecha exacta de lanzamiento del Volvo Vera. La compañía solo mencionó que el camión se lanzaría en un futuro próximo. Pero se implementaría un número limitado de unidades para clientes selectos cuando finalmente se lance.
The automotive industry has seen many novel transformations in the past few decades. Issues surrounding safety and sustainability are the major drivers behind these changes. It may be argued that there has not been any radical shift in the proportions that the automotive industry is known for. However, experts anticipate a completely new future for the industry. And with daring innovations like the Volvo Vera, the future couldn’t be any closer.
What’s special about the Volvo Vera?
Perhaps, the most intriguing feature of the Volvo Vera is its ability to take us into the future. The car is radically different from anything you can see today and it essentially looks like all those fancy devices from Sci-Fi movies. Vera is optimized to replace heavy-duty trucks that are used in mega-logistic centers and ports. The driver-less concept means logistic companies can run more efficiently. And the fact that it relies on electricity means most of the maintenance you’ll have to do would only involve charging. In addition, the potential environmental impact with the widespread use of electric trucks would be massive. There will be reduced noise and reduced carbon emissions.
What does Vera mean for truck drivers?
Discussions surrounding driver-less cars would always create question marks about the future role of drivers. But this shouldn’t stop us from embracing technology. The benefits here clearly outweigh the potential risks. According to the Vice President of Autonomous Solutions at Volvo Trucks, it creates a need for skilled drivers. It is anticipated that the evolution of the transportation industry would be similar to what happened with the production industry. The development of automated systems meant that factories started favoring skilled workers at the expense of unskilled ones. But the prosperity it has brought to the industry cannot be argued.
Are there safety concerns?
Volvo Trucks make the safety of all their innovations a priority. Till date, the Volvo Vera is yet to be officially launched. But the prototypes indicate features such as a lower operating speed, and several cameras, radars, and sensors. These features would ensure that the Volvo Vera is very safe especially at the testing stages. After extensive on-site testing, the company plans to increase the operating speed and further optimize the safety features.
Is this a first-of-its-kind technology?
The Volvo Vera is a fine blend of the new and the old. The vehicle and surrounding structure incorporate some novel technologies. Extensive testing has been done to ensure the machine works seamlessly. There are also elements of the traditional Volvo Trucks we are all familiar with already. The electric drive-line of the Volvo Vera is an example of this adapted base technology.
When is the launch date?
The precise launch date of the Volvo Vera remains unknown. The company only mentioned that the truck would be launched in the near future. But a limited number of units would be rolled out to select clients when it is eventually launched.
Startup
A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship refers to all new businesses, including self-employment and businesses that never intend to become registered, startups refer to new businesses that intend to grow large beyond the solo founder. At the beginning, startups face high uncertainty and have high rates of failure, but a minority of them do go on to be successful and influential. Some startups become unicorns; that is privately held startup companies valued at over US$1 billion.
Actions
Startups typically begin by a founder (solo-founder) or co-founders who have a way to solve a problem. The founder of a startup will begin market validation by problem interview, solution interview, and building a minimum viable product (MVP), i.e. a prototype, to develop and validate their business models. The startup process can take a long period of time (by some estimates, three years or longer), and hence sustaining effort is required. Over the long term, sustaining effort is especially challenging because of the high failure rates and uncertain outcomes. Having a business plan in place outlines what to do and how to plan and achieve an idea in the future. Typically, these plans outline the first 3 to 5 years of your business strategy.
Design principles
Models behind startups presenting as ventures are usually associated with design science. Design science uses design principles considered to be a coherent set of normative ideas and propositions to design and construct the company's backbone. For example, one of the initial design principles is "affordable loss".
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