The Mitsubishi Fuso eCanter Sensor Collect concept is an electric garbage truck that, thanks to autonomous technology, follows the worker/driver during waste collection. It is part of the program of the Japan Environmental Sanitation Center (JESC), to reduce CO2 during waste collection, and increase work efficiency.
The first concept was produced in 2020, while this is an improved version based on the production eCanter, equipped with a 6.4-ton lithium-ion battery. The vehicle was tested in the city of Kawasaki, and the truck successfully handled various situations while following its driver who was walking in front of it.
The truck is equipped with front and rear cameras and sensors, thanks to which it follows the driver when he leaves his seat and starts walking. It stops at places for waste collection or other places designated by the operator, which significantly reduces the burden on the worker, who does not have to constantly get in and out of the vehicle. It is also equipped with level 2 autonomous driving technology and level 2 ADAS, which is common in most new production vehicles. Some may feel that they need a higher level of autonomy, but these systems are still good enough for low-speed operations, and the garbage truck follows a predetermined waste collection route with no problem.
Thanks to the cameras, the vehicle can detect various obstacles and other road users. If there is a person in front of the vehicle, the system will activate the brakes and avoid contact, or if another vehicle is parked along the route of the truck, it will make a maneuver and bypass it, and then continue to follow its driver.
In addition, this vehicle has a system that detects the weight and volume of loaded waste, as well as the number of loaded pieces of waste, and shares the information with central facilities, which helps improve efficiency.
The company said that they will continue testing during the year, which will contribute to the development of the next generation of its electric trucks.
Source: Mitsubishi Fuso