If there is one thing all kids seem to have in common, it’s the ability to surprise us. Sometimes it’s along the lines of my then 5-year-old daughter dropping an F-bomb while watching the Wisconsin Badgers football game with me. Other times, they do stuff like recommend the implementation of a drone and special camera for safer autonomous operations of an earth mover.
Volvo Construction Equipment and Lego Technic recently took the input of a group of kids to simultaneously design a new toy and construction vehicle prototype – the Lego Technic Volvo Concept Wheel Loader ZEUX. While the all-electric, autonomous vehicle’s use of a drone for checking the area around the worksite is pretty straightforward, the adjustable boom mounted Eye camera offers some unique characteristics.
Attached to the vehicle’s roof, it acknowledges the presence of a human being in the same manner as a car at an intersection by showing exactly where the vehicle’s autonomous navigation system is “looking”. This idea was inspired by the kids’ interaction with traffic when crossing busy streets.
The 1,167-piece toy model kit will be available next month, featuring a working boom, bucket, and chassis that can be raised and lowered. The drone and four-wheel steering functionality will also be included.
The actual ZEUX will utilize a 150kWh battery and 25kW electric hub motors at each wheel to improve traction. The wheels will also be packed with sensors focused on improving traction and stability. A scissor frame that can be lowered or raised as needed also provides greater balance and optimal positioning to reach higher without tipping. The 14-ton vehicle is projected to last three to five hours on a full charge.
This instance is not the first time Volvo has worked with Lego or kids, citing that their work with children has actually resulted in several futuristic patents.