Pioneering Future Machine Operation: Hive Autonomy and Volvo Maskin
2026.05.20
Hive’s platform gives Volvo’s heavy machines a silicon brain, supervised-autonomous operation across many machines and many sites, even in harsh industrial environments.
Together with Volvo Maskin, Hive Autonomy is bringing its platform to heavy industrial machines. By installing Hive’s hardware kit and the ODIN foundation model, existing machines gain a silicon brain capable of supervised-autonomous and remote operation, including in demanding industrial conditions.
The collaboration shows how the Hive Silicon Brain can be added to existing fleets, bridging the gap between traditional industrial operations and the emerging wave of AI. With Volvo’s robust machines and Hive’s multi-machine, multi-site platform, the partnership aims to pioneer the next generation of industrial and construction operations.
To give the machine perception and the model the data it needs, Hive installs sensors that provide a 360-degree field of view and feed ODIN an accurate, real-time picture of the environment. Sensor placement is tuned in close collaboration with operators to replicate the situational awareness of sitting in the cab.
Below the operator cabin, a compact control cabinet houses the necessary computing power, adding no volume to the machine’s original footprint. It connects directly to Volvo’s existing electrical interface, so all machine functionality and safety systems remain intact. At any point, Hive’s system can be switched off, returning the machine to its original manual operation.
“We are very happy to be a part of this project together with Hive Autonomy and Yara. It is inspiring to see how working with partners can drive innovation and make it possible to realize this advanced technical solution. Remote and autonomous operation will increase productivity and reduce the cost of operating our Wheel Loaders, and at the same time improve safety – in line with the most important core value of Volvo.”
David Kristanslund, Sales Director – Volvo Maskin
The project Kristanslund references is the collaboration with Yara Porsgrunn, where Hive is fitting Volvo’s L120H wheel loader with the Hive Silicon Brain
“Giving existing Volvo machines a silicon brain with our platform marks the beginning of a completely new era in machine capability,” states Christoffer Jørgenvåg, CEO of Hive Autonomy.
“It is a privilege to collaborate with a company like Volvo, dedicated to deploying robust, high-quality solutions. These improvements let our customers improve operator wellbeing and achieve substantially greater efficiency.“
Where supervision or teleoperation is needed, a wireless link (Wi-Fi, 4/5G or satellite, depending on the application) connects the machine to Hive’s operation station. The station supports both direct supervision and autonomy commands, issued from a touchpad on the right armrest. Control inputs are standardized, so the same layout operates many machine types, dumpers, excavators and more.
