Volvo Group is launching the world’s first electric truck safety program with Augmented Reality technology for first responders

Building on a long history of safety innovation, the Volvo Group is the first heavy vehicle manufacturer to launch an Augmented Reality (AR) electric vehicle safety program designed specifically to assist first responders during emergencies. The app is designed to provide instant and critical information from the electric truck to the emergency services team arriving at the scene to guide them in real time and ensure safe rescue situations.

Electric trucks will change the world, not only in terms of making transportation more sustainable but also in the way we drive and interact with the vehicles themselves. The technology involved — especially the high-power systems that can power a large electric vehicle — is also changing the way we view emergency response, requiring its own set of parameters and new safety procedures.

“This not only shows how Volvo’s safety vision is coming to handle incidents that occur outside the cab, but it is also about ensuring that the new safety criteria that electric trucks bring are taken into account” , he demands Anna Wrige BerlingDirector of Traffic and Product Safety at Volvo Trucks. “We want to provide information to the first participants, so that they in turn can prepare for the general changes in electric transport and the changes in their work. Then there is the fact that this program is a very important application of Augmented Reality – again, this shows how the technology is as important a part of our overall security mission as any other.”

The Emergency Response Guide app, now available as a free download from the Android and Apple stores, provides safety information for all Volvo Group truck brands, including Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks and Mack Trucks. AR features will be added to Mack electric trucks in June 2023.

Using a combination of connectivity, cameras, sensors, 3D models and AR overlays, safety software can provide first responders with a detailed view of the vehicle. It provides information on the location of high-voltage wires, battery packs and other important components, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to safely turn off the power to your electric vehicle in the event of an emergency.

The safety software was developed by a team of experts at the Volvo Group’s R&D centers in Sweden, France and the United States. In addition to information about Augmented Reality and 3D models, the application also contains all the safety documents related to the electric vehicle, which the user will be able to access once the vehicle is recognized.

“The security software has been tested in a variety of real-world situations and has received positive feedback from first responders who have tested it in the field”he demands Vincent BarnouxAR Specialist & Business Solutions Engineer at Volvo Group.

The Volvo Group is committed to promoting the safe and responsible use of electric vehicles and the development of this program is just one example of the company’s ongoing efforts in this area. The Volvo Group invests heavily in the development of electric vehicle technology and offers a wide range of electric solutions for commercial use.

The new Emergency Response Guide app is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

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published on 24/05/2023