Auto robot coming for Aussie jobs

This bold project aims to take ‘dull, dirty, difficult or dangerous’ jobs from Aussie drivers.

You’ve never seen a Suzuki Jimny quite like this.

A tie-up between Australian software and robotics specialist Applied EV and Suzuki has birthed the Blanc Robot, an autonomous electric vehicle that has been specifically designed for “dull, dirty, difficult or dangerous” operations.

The Blanc Robot uses the same ladder-chassis underpinnings as the five-door Suzuki Jimny XL, and while its bodiless, blank-canvas design may not be discernible as being a Suzuki-based product based on the com-gen images, the Aussie business says it worked closely with the Japanese small-car specialist to get the project off the ground.

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Applied EV and Suzuki are working together on an autonomous vehicle. Picture: Supplied

Some of the giveaway design elements include the rounded headlights, chunky black bumpers, and carry-over wheels with lower-profile tyres than the existing Jimny, which is designed for off-road adventures.

According to Applied EV, the electric motor is sourced from a tier two automotive supplier, but the business wouldn’t say which supplier it sources its battery pack from.

However, it has been confirmed that the battery pack sizes will range between 45kWh and 70kWh, depending on the configuration of the vehicle.

For reference, most common affordable EVs in Australia have battery packs around 60kWh with up to 400km of driving range, though no range figures have been stated for this product.

Further, Applied EV claims the Blanc Robot is four-wheel-drive, just like its chassis donor, and that it “uses many of the original Suzuki components to maintain durability and manage product and engineering costs”.

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Specifics including the amount of EV driving range, battery tech used, charging specs, power and torque outputs, and payload capacity are still to be detailed.

According to Applied EV, the design of the vehicle - with no cabin, no seats, no steering wheel or pedals - offers table-top adaptability to be fitted with multiple different top boxes for a mix of jobs.

Applied EV and Suzuki are working together on an autonomous vehicle. Picture: Supplied

The first 100 of these odd-bod units are being built in Japan, based on the long-wheelbase Jimny platform.

Those jobs could include driverless deliveries to businesses, but also more dangerous jobs that human drivers may not be able to do, such as specific applications in logistics, agriculture, farming and mining.

“The demand for autonomous vehicle fleets that integrate seamlessly into both emerging logistics companies and established enterprises has never been stronger, said Applied EV chief executive, Julian Broadbent.

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Applied EV and Suzuki are working together on an autonomous vehicle. Picture: Supplied

“While transportation businesses are eager to adopt cutting-edge technologies, they require complete, real and actual ‘solutions’ to drive meaningful implementation at scale. Applied EV, in collaboration with our partners, has addressed this challenge with a turnkey solution,” he said.

“Powered by software, our vehicles come in a range of sizes and can be tailored for unique autonomous driving applications. The Blanc Robot marks the first purpose-built autonomous vehicle released for scale, produced by Suzuki and running on Applied EV software. The first 100 production units are underway in Australia, with the capacity to scale to tens of thousands to meet demand.”