Volvo LX03 prototype loader comes to life

Remember when Volvo and LEGO teamed up in 2018 to release a Technic set of a ZEUX future-concept wheel loader? Now, three years later, the ZEUX has been transformed into the LX03 - a full-sized, fully functioning machine capable of self-learning and automation.

Volvo said it’s the first time ever a LEGO Technic model has been turned into a real machine, instead of the other way around.

Following the release of the LEGO ZEUX wheel loader model, a concept originally thought up by children, Volvo engineers, designers, programmers and technicians in Sweden and Germany proceeded to put their heads together to materialise the concept machine.

The result was a 5-ton wheel loader with a modular concept that can be made larger or smaller with just one or two changes to the manufacturing process. It also shares its driveline with the L25 Electric, making it a zero emission, low-noise machine with a runtime of up to eight hours depending on the application.

It is designed to be a smart and safe worker, equipped with a 'brain' that has the capacity to adapt to different scenarios, make decisions in real-time and most importantly collaborate with humans. It can be programmed by customers to complete heavy, repetitive or dangerous tasks, reducing the need for humans on site.

The wheels are packed with sensors to enable the machine to keep its balance and stability at all times in the absence of human operation.

The LX03 also features a unique scissor frame that has been designed to give the machine greater freedom of movement and increased efficiency, Volvo CE said.

It offers a unique bucket sequence whereby the bucket can be filled by simply lowering the rear part, or counterweight, of the machine, requiring no work from the loading unit at the front and providing improved stability during the loading process.

While not commercially available, Volvo CE engineers expect that valuable insights from the LX03 will feed into applications for today and tomorrow. Volvo CE said the LX03 represents the next stages in the company’s exploration into machine intelligence and its 'net-zero by 2040' decarbonisation plan.

“We need to transform the construction industry with smart and more sustainable solutions that will have an impact on a global scale,” said Volvo CE President, Melker Jenberg.

“The unveiling of the LX03 prototype represents just that – and is testament to the incredible expertise of our engineers and our united commitment towards positive change. Together with the LEGO Group, we are pushing the boundaries of both technology and imagination and the result is beyond anything the world has seen before."

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