Volvo’s self driving vehicle technology even reaches deep underground it seems. In order to demonstrate how its fully autonomous vehicles can cope with extreme terrains and driving conditions, the company has released a video showing a self driving Volvo FMX truck operating in a mine in Sweden, more than 1300 metres below ground.

“This is the world’s first fully self-driving truck to operate under such tough conditions. It is a true challenge to ensure that everything works meticulously more than 1300 metres underground,” said Torbjörn Holmström, member of the Volvo Group Executive Board and Volvo Group Chief Technology Officer.

Holmström takes part in the film, standing in the middle of the mine gallery and not flinching as the self-driving truck approached him.

“No matter what type of vehicle we develop, safety is always our primary concern and this also applies to self-driving vehicles. I was convinced the truck would stop but naturally I felt a knot in my stomach until the truck applied its brakes!” said Holmström.

The film can be seen at www.volvogroup.com/automation. As well as the film the website has extra material including interviews with Volvo Group’s autonomous truck specialists.

Where governments have been reasonably slow and careful with regard the use of self driving vehicles, major mining operations have allowed themselves to become test beds for the technology. They make savings in terms of man hours while allowing very large vehicles to drive autonomously around their sites, both using and being testbeds for these technologies that in turn are feeding onto the world’s public roads.