Business

KAMAZ is taking part in the Innoprom 2023 International Industrial Exhibition, which has opened today in Yekaterinburg.

This year, within the framework of the Innoprom exhibition, KAMAZ for the first time presented two models of logging equipment. The all-wheel drive KAMAZ-1010 Harvester is a machine that performs tree cutting, delimbing and cross-cutting operations. It belongs to the heavy class of harvesters, which are designed to work on cutting areas with large forest stands and therefore are distinguished by a significant mass, a large possible outreach (up to 10–12 m) and a large load moment of the manipulator. The vehicle is equipped with harvester heads that allow cutting down trees with a trunk diameter of 600 mm or more. In its turn, the KAMAZ-1011 Forwarder is a logging machine designed for collecting, sorting, loading and transporting (skidding) assortments in a fully submerged position from the place of harvesting to the logging point (storage point). Also, this model provides for the subsequent unloading and stacking of assortments in a pile or loading into timber vehicles. It belongs to the heavy class of forwarders.

The main feature of the vehicles is the synchronized angle of rotation of the manipulator and the cab. The KAMAZ Harvester and the KAMAZ Forwarder have a unified front module for the engine and engine systems, units and assemblies, front frame and trim package, which together allows to reduce the range of components for assembling. The new products are not inferior to competitors in terms of productivity and carrying capacity, therefore, KAMAZ expects that the new vehicles will take their rightful place on the market in the logging equipment segment.

Also KAMAZ exhibits a cabless unmanned dump truck KAMAZ-6559 (Jupiter-30) designed for autonomous mining operations. Designed to transport loosened rock mass or ore using unmanned technology – without the presence of people in the danger zone of operating heavy vehicles and excavators. In connection with this feature, there is no cab for the driver in the vehicle.

The company’s stand also demonstrates the flagship of the K5 model range – the KAMAZ-54901 freight truck on a new sanction-resistant component base with improved technical characteristics. This model is in high demand in the commercial trucking market.

The main industrial exhibition of the country – Innoprom 2023 – is being held in Yekaterinburg from July 10 to 13. This is a global event in the industry, which brings together representatives of various states and businesses on one platform to establish new business contacts and develop the industrial sector, enables to establish a dialogue between business and government, as well as enter new markets. The main topic of this year’s event is Sustainable Production: Renewal Strategies.

Today, on June 14, under the Unmanned Logistic Corridors project, unmanned KAMAZ freight trucks started running along the M-11 Neva federal highway.

The launch of self-driving KAMAZ trucks on the M-11 highway for goods transportation along the route St. Petersburg – Moscow – St. Petersburg became the first stage of the Unmanned Logistics Corridors project and took place as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. In total, four digital freight trucks, as part of a road train with a semi-trailer, will transport cargo between the two cities. The vehicles were created on the basis of the KAMAZ-54901 truck tractor. The model is equipped with communication, navigation, technical vision, and incoming information processing systems. The brake and steering system, engine and automatic transmission are controlled using an electronic CAN bus.

The vehicles will operate between the logistics terminals of Moscow and St. Petersburg hub-to-hub, without stops in other cities. The length of the route will be 650 km. As Sergey Nazarenko, Chief Designer for Innovative Vehicles of KAMAZ PTC, explained, self-driving freight trucks will operate 24/7, that is, restrictions related to drivers’ work and rest schedule do not apply to these vehicles. The truck will stop only for loading and unloading, refueling, as well as for vehicle maintenance – changing filters, oil, etc. During the trip, in accordance with the ELR program (experimental legal regime), a test engineer will sit in the cab, ready to take control in emergency situations.

The highly automated vehicles started running on the M-11 highway as part of the experimental legal regime introduced for unmanned trucks. The purpose of the launch is to conduct research tests of robotic vehicles on public roads, to develop algorithms, cargo flows, and organizational features of the operation of robotic vehicles. Also important is the parallel building of a system of interaction between the operator of unmanned transportation, logistics companies and the operator of the infrastructure.

The design consortium has been formed with the largest Russian technology developers, vehicle manufacturers, carriers and shippers. In addition to the manufacturer of highly automated vehicles, KAMAZ PTC, Globaltruck, PEC, Gazpromneft-Snabzhenie, Avtodor Group as an infrastructure operator, and other companies became participants of the event.

“Today KAMAZ is working on a number of projects on unmanned vehicles. In the near future, the company will be able to expand its customer base by including in the line of highly automated vehicles both the usual civilian areas – the transportation of passengers, cargo, and highly specialized technical solutions. The results of the first stage of the Unmanned Logistic Corridors project will determine plans for the further development of the direction and the schedule for the production of this equipment,” said Irek Gumerov, Deputy General Director of KAMAZ PTC, Development Director.

The Unmanned Logistics Corridors project is part of the strategic initiatives of the Russian Ministry of Transport. They were developed as part of the execution of the instructions of the President of Russia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the preparation of the Strategy for the Digital Transformation of the Transport Industry. Technological, organizational and business solutions that will be worked out within the framework of the experimental legal regime on the M-11 will form the basis of future transport and logistics corridors. By 2030, unmanned transportation is planned to be organized on 19.5 thousand km of federal roads.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the use of unmanned vehicles on public roads will improve traffic safety, contribute to the creation of new types of commercial activities, and reduce the cost of drivers and fuel.

Tomorrow, June 14, the first Russian self-driving KAMAZ trucks will carry cargo along the M-11 Neva federal highway. The launch of self-driving freight trucks – the first stage of the Unmanned Logistics Corridors project – will take place as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Four KAMAZ-54901 digital freight trucks will carry commercial cargo from St. Petersburg to Moscow and operate between the logistics terminals of these cities. The project involves the largest carriers: PEC, Global Truck, Gazpromneft-Snabzhenie.

Unmanned cargo delivery is being tested as part of the Experimental Legal Regime Program (ELR) on the M-11 Neva highway. The Ministry of Transport of Russia is responsible for the implementation of the project.