UD Trucks has stepped into the world of driverless trucks with a demonstration of a heavy-duty Quon operating fully autonomously.
UD Trucks senior VP of technology Douglas Nakano says that the demo of the Quon's Level 4 autonomous operation capabilities at its Japanese HQ, "is a major step toward practical application of this technology by 2020."
The Quon autonomously negotiated a course that emulated the real-world conditions facing heavy-duty trucks in confined areas such as ports, factories, warehouses and construction sites, where L4 technology "will help improve efficiency, safety and productivity."
The truck utilised automation technologies including GPS, radar, Lidar, onboard cameras and software – enabling high-precision starting, stopping, the negotiation of a slalom course, the execution of U-turns and reversing. 
UD Trucks is participating in the Japanese government's highway platooning project, and says it will continue to improve the accuracy and safety of automation technologies including vehicle-to-vehicle communications and lanekeeping assistance – tapping into "the wealth of testing data" available to it through the wider Volvo Group.
The truckmaker says it aims to partner with companies across the logistics industry and beyond through a strategy of "building knowledge while testing."
It aims to complete field tests and customer trials of its autonomous trucks by late this year – "with a view toward daily operation by 2020 and commercialisation of fully-electric trucks and autonomous trucks by 2030."